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                        <title>Pakistan News, Latest News Pakistan, Pakistan Headline | The Express Tribune</title>
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			<title>78th Kashmir Accession Day to Pakistan observed across country marking 1947's historic resolution</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619125/78th-kashmir-accession-day-to-pakistan-observed-across-country-marking-1947s-historic-resolution</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619125/78th-kashmir-accession-day-to-pakistan-observed-across-country-marking-1947s-historic-resolution#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 19 Jul 26 11:06:58 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[APP]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[President, PM reaffirm support for Kashmiris' right to self-determination]]>
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				<![CDATA[The 78th Kashmir Accession Day (Youm-e-Ilhaq-e-Pakistan)&nbsp;to Pakistan was observed across the country on Sunday to commemorate the historic resolution adopted by the All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference on July 19, 1947, calling for the accession of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir to Pakistan.

The day was observed across Pakistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), and also among the Kashmiri diaspora who reiterated their stance on the occasion.

Various activities were held, including public rallies, seminars, conferences, and public gatherings.

The cities and towns were decorated with Pakistani and Kashmiri flags, while political parties, civil society organisations, and student groups organised events reaffirming their commitment to the 1947 resolution and the implementation of United Nations resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan&#39;s unwavering support for the people of Jammu and Kashmir on the occasion of Kashmir&rsquo;s Accession to Pakistan Day&nbsp;and urged the international community and the United Nations to play a more active role in ensuring the implementation of UN resolutions.

In separate messages, the country&#39;s top leadership said the day symbolised the historic aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and reiterated Islamabad&#39;s long-standing position on the dispute.

President Zardari said Pakistan had &quot;consistently advocated a peaceful and just resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.&quot;



&quot;Pakistan has consistently advocated a peaceful and just resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people. We urge the international community, particularly the&hellip; pic.twitter.com/ficHa4SU6r
&mdash; The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) July 19, 2026


&quot;We urge the international community, particularly the United Nations, to fulfil its responsibility by supporting efforts aimed at ensuring the realisation of the Kashmiri people&#39;s inalienable right to self-determination,&quot; he said.

Prime Minister Shehbaz said Youm-e-Ilhaq-e-Pakistan commemorates the historic resolution adopted by the All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference during its Srinagar session on July 19, 1947, describing it as a defining moment in the political history of the region.



Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif&rsquo;s Message on the Occasion of Youm-e-Ilhaq-e-Pakistan (Kashmir&rsquo;s Accession to Pakistan Day) 19 July 2026.

Youm-e-Ilhaq-e-Pakistan (Kashmir&rsquo;s Accession to Pakistan Day) is observed annually to commemorate the historic resolution adopted by&hellip;
&mdash; Prime Minister&#39;s Office (@PakPMO) July 18, 2026


He said the unanimously adopted resolution &quot;reflected the collective political aspirations of the Muslims of Jammu and Kashmir&quot; and expressed their desire for the state&#39;s accession to Pakistan while calling upon the Dogra rulers to respect &quot;the will of the people.&quot;

&quot;The resolution remains an important historical milestone in the political struggle of the people of Jammu and Kashmir,&quot; the prime minister said.

PM Shehbaz added that the occasion served as &quot;a reminder of the enduring bonds that unite the peoples of Pakistan and Jammu and Kashmir,&quot; founded on &quot;shared history, faith, culture, geography and longstanding ties.&quot;

Read: UN rights chief calls for calm, dialogue amid AJK unrest

&quot;Above all, it underscores the central importance of respecting the freely expressed will of the Kashmiri people,&quot; he said.

Reaffirming Pakistan&#39;s position on the dispute, the prime minister said the country remained &quot;steadfast in its principled support for the inalienable right to self-determination of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, as enshrined in the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.&quot;

He said the unresolved dispute continued to have &quot;profound implications for regional peace and security.&quot;

&quot;Lasting peace in South Asia requires its peaceful resolution in accordance with the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people,&quot; he said.

Paying tribute to the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), PM Shehbaz said the government and people of Pakistan &quot;salute the courage, resilience and steadfastness&quot; of Kashmiris in what he described as their &quot;just struggle for the realisation of their fundamental rights.&quot;

He reiterated that Pakistan would continue to extend its &quot;unwavering diplomatic, political and moral support&quot; until the people of Jammu and Kashmir were able to exercise their &quot;inalienable right to self-determination.&quot;

It was on July 19, 1947, that the genuine representatives of the Kashmiris unanimously passed the resolution of Kashmir&rsquo;s accession to Pakistan during a meeting of the All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference at the residence of Sardar Muhammad Ibrahim Khan in Aabi Guzar area of Srinagar.

Read More: Leadership hails Kashmir Martyrs&rsquo; Day

The historic resolution called for the accession of the state of Jammu and Kashmir to Pakistan in view of its existing religious, geographical, cultural, and economic proximity to Pakistan and the aspirations of millions of Kashmiri Muslims.

The development had come almost a month before the creation of the two sovereign states of Pakistan and India under the Partition Plan of the British Indian colony on August 14 and 15, the same year.

As per the resolution, around 80 per cent of the Muslim population, rivers passing through Kashmir, language, culture, and the state&rsquo;s relations with Pakistan were the factors making accession to Pakistan inevitable.

The UNSC resolutions No. 47, 51, 80, 96, 98,122 and 126 also declared that the fate of Jammu and Kashmir would be decided as per the wishes of the Kashmiri people through self-determination.

The Indian government had also committed before the UN that they would grant the self-determination right to the Kashmiris, but later retracted. With regard to granting the right to self-determination, the Indian authorities further implemented the revocation of Articles 370 and 35A, which had granted special status to Kashmir.]]>
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			<title>'There will be no leniency,' Talal warns over Noreen Niazi's remarks</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619122/there-will-be-no-leniency-talal-warns-over-noreen-niazis-remarks</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619122/there-will-be-no-leniency-talal-warns-over-noreen-niazis-remarks#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 19 Jul 26 09:49:27 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Web Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2619122</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Tariq Fazl says comments not an isolated incident, reflect broader pattern by Imran Khan's family]]>
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				<![CDATA[Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry on Sunday accused Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan&#39;s sister, Noreen Niazi, of promoting an anti-state narrative.&nbsp;

&quot;It makes no difference whether the person is a man or a woman. The law will take its course, and there will be no leniency for anyone found undermining Pakistan&#39;s stability,&quot; he said a day after legal proceedings were initiated over her recent remarks.

The address comes a day after the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) summoned Noreen for an inquiry after she gave an interview, alleging that Operation Marka-e-Haq was a collaboration between the Pakistan armed forces and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The term &ldquo;Marka-e-Haq&rdquo; refers to the 2025 conflict with India, which began with the April 22 Pahalgam attack and concluded with a ceasefire on May 10 following Operation Bunyanum Marsoos.

Speaking to the media in recorded addresses, both Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry and Talal said Noreen&#39;s comments were not an isolated incident but reflected &quot;a broader pattern&quot; by Imran&#39;s family.

&quot;Noreen&#39;s statement is extremely regrettable and condemnable,&quot; Tariq said. &quot;There is hardly an occasion that Imran and his entire family let pass without making statements against Pakistan or promoting narratives against the state.&quot;

Drawing a contrast with Pakistan&#39;s military confrontation with India last year, he said the country&#39;s performance had been acknowledged both at home and abroad.

&quot;The victory in Marka-e-Haq was historic. Not only Pakistanis, but people around the world, international media, and military experts recognised Pakistan&#39;s clear superiority over India,&quot; he said.

&quot;US President Donald Trump referred on several occasions to the Indian aircraft Pakistan brought down. Pakistan even made the tail numbers of those aircraft public, yet India never once denied that its aircraft had been shot down.&quot;

He also referred to cyberattacks on India and strikes on Indian military positions, saying they had become &quot;part of history&quot;.

&quot;The success of Marka-e-Haq and Bunyan-un-Marsoos left the world astonished. Even today, it remains a case study of how Pakistan defeated India.&quot;

Turning back to Noreen&#39;s remarks, Tariq said they were incompatible with Pakistan&#39;s national interest. &quot;To say that Narendra Modi could &#39;fix&#39; Pakistan is deeply shameful. No matter how much it is condemned, it remains a disgraceful statement. It goes against Pakistan&#39;s integrity, dignity, and honour.&quot;

The minister said that our armed forces are not only the symbol of our security and national pride, but also continue to make immense sacrifices for the defence of the country.

Read: NCCIA summons Imran&rsquo;s sister Noreen Niazi for controversial remarks on Marka-e-Haq

&quot;Statements that undermine Pakistan&#39;s dignity and national interest are rejected by the entire nation,&quot; he added.

Talal echoed those remarks, arguing that Noreen&#39;s comments were consistent with what he alleged had long been Imran Khan&#39;s political approach.

&quot;This is not the first time the PTI founder&#39;s sister has made such remarks. For a long time, the entire family has demonstrated through its politics that its objective is to harm Pakistan,&quot; he said.

&quot;After hearing this interview, is there really any room left to doubt what many people have long alleged?&quot;

He then accused Imran of having foreign backing, linking his allegations to the party&#39;s foreign funding case and extending them to his personal life.

&quot;Whether it is the foreign funding case, his marriage, or even the upbringing of his children, people should ask who has been backing them,&quot; Talal said.

He alleged that Imran&#39;s children had been raised &quot;in the homes of families closely linked to Israel&quot; and claimed that the party&#39;s politics, funding, and public narrative reflected the influence of what he described as its foreign patrons.

&quot;These are the proxies whose real owners protect them, raise their children, provide them with resources, wealth, and lobbying,&quot; he alleged.

Talal also accused Imran of repeatedly targeting Pakistan&#39;s institutions, particularly the armed forces.

&quot;Whenever there was even the smallest issue involving Pakistan&#39;s Army, there would immediately be tweets and statements. But when it comes to Israel, they remain silent,&quot; he alleged.

He further said that PTI had campaigned internationally against Pakistan&#39;s economic interests. &quot;They wrote to the IMF, protested outside its headquarters, and wished for Pakistan to default. They urged overseas Pakistanis not to send remittances so the country would face economic collapse.&quot;

He also alleged that the party had lobbied for trade and travel restrictions on Pakistan. &quot;Whenever Pakistan&#39;s economy can be targeted, they are there. Whenever Pakistan&#39;s stability can be weakened, they are there.&quot;

The minister went on to allege that opinion pieces favourable to the PTI founder had appeared in Israeli newspapers and other international publications written by people &quot;close to Israel&quot;, which he claimed reflected lobbying carried out on the party&#39;s behalf.

Read More: Aleema says public backs Imran&#39;s release

&quot;Their target is not just the Army. Their target is not just Pakistan&#39;s institutions. Their target is Pakistan itself,&quot; he alleged.

Rejecting any suggestion that Noreen&#39;s comments had been inadvertent, Talal said, &quot;This was not a slip of the tongue. It was a deliberate statement, made after thought and consideration.&quot;

He said the government had already begun legal proceedings against Noreen and that she would be given a full opportunity to explain why she made these remarks.

He said that &quot;their target is Pakistan itself,&quot; a day after legal proceedings were initiated over her recent remarks.

According to a notice issued by the NCCIA Cyber Crime Reporting Centre, Noreen has been directed to appear before the agency on Monday to record her statement in connection with the inquiry.

The notice, issued under Section 160 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, stated that the NCCIA was conducting proceedings in the matter.

The notice directed her to appear in person at the NCCIA Cyber Crime Reporting Centre in Islamabad to record her statement. It warned that non-compliance would mean &ldquo;that you have nothing to present or state in your defence&rdquo; and would be punishable under Section 174 of the Pakistan Penal Code, 1860.

The notice was issued after Noreen made remarks regarding Marka-e-Haq and the Pakistan Army during an interview on a YouTube channel.

In the interview, Noreen alleged that Marka-e-Haq was a collaboration between the Pakistan armed forces and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

She further claimed that India refrained from attacking Pakistan at Israel&rsquo;s request because Pakistan was moving towards recognising Israel.

&ldquo;Modi could have fixed them in two minutes if he had wanted to. Why did Modi stop? What was he afraid of? India is such a large country. Look at that country and then look at yourselves,&rdquo; she said.

She also alleged that Israel was &ldquo;behind&rdquo; the developments and claimed that Pakistan was being prepared to join countries that had established diplomatic relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords.

The comments were criticised by politicians and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz.]]>
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			<title>AJK electioneering gains momentum</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619059/ajk-electioneering-gains-momentum</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619059/ajk-electioneering-gains-momentum#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 18 Jul 26 20:51:49 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[M A Mir]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Azad Jammu &amp; Kashmir]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2619059</guid>
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				<![CDATA[Polling stations established at district headquarters]]>
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				<![CDATA[Government employees assigned election duties for the 2026 Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) general elections will cast their votes on Monday (tomorrow) under arrangements made by the AJK Election Commission (EC), enabling them to exercise their franchise before polling day.

According to AJK EC senior member Khawaja Ahsan, polling for election staff will be held at designated polling stations established at the district headquarters of the respective districts to facilitate officials deployed on election duty.

The AJK EC has directed all District Returning Officers (DROs), Returning Officers (ROs), district administrations and other relevant departments to complete all necessary arrangements to ensure that polling for election personnel is conducted in a transparent, orderly and timely manner.

Under the commission&#39;s instructions, Ahsan said all officials assigned election duties have been directed to report to their designated polling stations on the scheduled date and time to cast their votes and strictly comply with the procedures and code of conduct issued by the election commission.

PPP chairman

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is set to address a public election rally in Kotli on Sunday (today) as the party steps up its campaign for the July 27 Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections, following an encouraging response to its campaign launch in Dadyal.

The Kotli rally will be Bilawal&#39;s second public gathering of the election campaign after he launched the party&#39;s drive with a rally in Dadyal on July 17.

The PPP claims its campaign has since gained significant momentum across AJK and that the party has further strengthened its position ahead of the polls.

PPP AJK Media Adviser SyedAzadar Hussain Shah said the Kotli rally would demonstrate the party&#39;s public support, expressing confidence that Kashmiris would endorse the PPP&#39;s narrative of the &quot;right to self-governance, right to ownership and right to employment&quot; by voting for the party&#39;s candidates.

&quot;This election is not merely about forming a government but about safeguarding the rights of the people of Kashmir and determining the future course of development, empowerment and prosperity,&quot; he said.

Shah maintained that the large turnout and enthusiastic participation of party workers at the Dadyal rally had energised the election campaign.

Fresh schedule for LA-24

The Azad Jammu and Kashmir Election Commission (AJKEC) has issued a fresh election schedule for LA-24 Poonch-Sudhnoti-7 (Baloch) following the death of independent candidate Zahid Yasin.

According to an AJKEC spokesperson, the returning officer terminated election proceedings in the constituency under Section 45 of the AJK Election Act, 2020, after receiving a report regarding the candidate&#39;s death. In accordance with the law, a fresh election schedule has now been announced.

Under the revised schedule, candidates may submit their nomination papers to the returning officer at the district headquarters in Pallandri until July 21. Scrutiny of nomination papers will be conducted on July 22 from 8:00am to 12:00 noon, after which the provisional list of validly nominated candidates will be published.

Appeals against the returning officer&#39;s decisions may be filed with the AJKEC from July 23 to July 26 until 2:00pm. The commission will hear the appeals on July 28 and announce its decisions the same day.]]>
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			<title>FM Dar offers condolences to Venezuela, vows support after deadly earthquakes</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619113/fm-dar-offers-condolences-to-venezuela-vows-support-after-deadly-earthquakes</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619113/fm-dar-offers-condolences-to-venezuela-vows-support-after-deadly-earthquakes#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 19 Jul 26 07:15:45 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Web Desk]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Islamabad]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2619113</guid>
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				<![CDATA[Venezuelan FM acknowledges Pakistan's constructive role in promoting dialogue and de-escalation between US and Iran]]>
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				<![CDATA[Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Sunday&nbsp;conveyed condolences to Venezuela over the recent devastating earthquakes, reaffirming Islamabad&#39;s &quot;unwavering solidarity&quot; with the Venezuelan government and its people during a telephone conversation with Venezuela&#39;s newly appointed Foreign Minister F&eacute;lix Plasencia.

On June 24, Venezuela was struck by two powerful earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, which hit just 39 seconds apart in the western state of Yaracuy. The disaster has so far claimed at least 5,069 lives and left 16,740 people injured, according to National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez.

According to a post on X by the Foreign Office (FO), Dar congratulated Plasencia on his appointment before expressing Pakistan&#39;s &quot;heartfelt condolences&quot; over the earthquakes that struck Venezuela.

He reaffirmed Pakistan&#39;s &quot;unwavering solidarity with the Government and the people of Venezuela during this difficult time&quot; and expressed confidence in the country&#39;s &quot;resilience and recovery.&quot;



Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 received a call from the newly appointed Minister of Foreign Relations and Foreign Trade of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, H.E. F&eacute;lix Plasencia.

DPM/FM extended his warm congratulations to&hellip; pic.twitter.com/aPyK1Y6wTn
&mdash; Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) July 19, 2026



Plasencia thanked Dar for Pakistan&#39;s message of sympathy and solidarity and expressed appreciation for Pakistan&#39;s support and humanitarian solidarity with the victims of the natural disasters,&nbsp;underscoring &quot;the importance of mutual support in times of need.&quot;

Read:&nbsp;Death toll from Venezuela earthquakes rises to 5,069

The Venezuelan foreign minister also acknowledged Pakistan&#39;s &quot;constructive role in promoting dialogue and de-escalation&quot; in the regional situation involving the United States and Iran and commended Islamabad&#39;s commitment to &quot;peace and diplomacy.&quot;

The two ministers exchanged views on the &quot;longstanding friendly relations&quot; between Pakistan and Venezuela and reaffirmed their &quot;shared commitment to further strengthening bilateral ties.&quot; They also discussed opportunities to expand cooperation across &quot;trade, investment, business, agriculture, IT, and other areas of mutual interest.&quot;

Both sides underscored the &quot;considerable potential for enhancing economic collaboration&quot; and fostering &quot;stronger people-to-people contacts for the mutual benefit of the two countries.&quot;

Dar emphasised the importance of &quot;sustained high-level engagement&quot; to &quot;reinvigorate bilateral relations and further deepen cooperation.&quot; The two ministers also appreciated the &quot;continued close coordination&quot; between Pakistan and Venezuela at multilateral forums on &quot;issues of common interest.&quot;

They agreed to &quot;remain in close contact&quot; and &quot;meet at the earliest appropriate opportunity&quot; to carry forward the bilateral agenda.

According to the US Geological Survey, the stronger 7.5-magnitude quake struck about 23 kilometres southeast of Yumare, while the 7.2-magnitude tremor hit roughly 24 kilometres northeast of San Felipe.

The twin earthquakes triggered widespread devastation, followed by 890 aftershocks that further hampered rescue and recovery efforts.

More than 128,000 families have received government assistance, but thousands remain displaced. Authorities have set up 106 temporary camps sheltering over 21,000 people, while nearly 18,000 people are still without permanent housing.

The earthquakes also left extensive damage to infrastructure. Rodriguez said 856 buildings were damaged, including 190 that collapsed, leaving entire communities struggling to rebuild.

President Nicol&aacute;s Maduro&nbsp;said Venezuela needs access to financial resources frozen abroad to support reconstruction, as well as funding for employment and education programmes. Venezuela has faced extensive sanctions from the United States, the European Union, and other countries over the past two decades, measures that Caracas says have complicated its recovery efforts.

After the earthquakes, the US&nbsp;authorised, for four months, ​transactions related to earthquake ​relief that ⁠would have been banned by sanctions.]]>
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			<title>Security forces foil major terror plot in Wana</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619096/security-forces-foil-major-terror-plot-in-wana</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619096/security-forces-foil-major-terror-plot-in-wana#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 19 Jul 26 00:28:07 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Khyber Pakhtunkhwa]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Destroy the explosives-laden vehicle, kill the terrorist during IBO]]>
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				<![CDATA[A terrorist was killed and five others injured in South Waziristan&#39;s Wana as security forces thwarted a major terrorist plot by destroying an &quot;explosive-laden vehicle intended for a suicide attack&quot; during an intelligence-based operation on Saturday, state media said while citing security sources.

In a post shared on X, state broadcaster Pakistan TV said, &quot;Security forces foiled a major terrorist plot in Wana through a timely intelligence-based operation, destroying an explosive-laden vehicle intended for a suicide attack&quot;.

Quoting the security sources, the post further underscored, &quot;The operation prevented a potential catastrophe in Wana and surrounding areas, with one terrorist killed and five others injured&quot;.

It also said that the &quot;successful action averted significant civilian casualties&quot; and ensured the safety of the local population.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi paid tribute to the security forces for foiling a &quot;major terrorism attempt in Wana&quot;.

In a post shared by the ministry of interior on X, the minister said, &quot;Salute to the security forces for thwarting the nefarious suicide attack plot in advance through intelligence-based operations. The brave soldiers of the security forces have crushed the enemy&#39;s intentions to dust&quot;.

He further stated that the &quot;security forces destroyed a vehicle and motorcycle laden with explosives&quot; with &quot;utmost professional skill&quot; before the terrorists could attack.

&quot;Security forces, demonstrating consummate skill, ensured the protection of citizens&#39; lives and property&quot;.

Meanwhile, the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) said on Saturday that a wanted terrorist was killed during an intelligence-based operation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa&#39;s Dera Ismail Khan district.

According to a CTD statement, the slain terrorist was identified as Khalid alias Commander, who was wanted in multiple cases, including the targeted killing of CTD Constable Muhammad Ali, who was martyred on March 17, 2025.

The department said that it had received confirmed intelligence through its technical team that Khalid was present in the Korai area within the limits of Shorkot police station.

Acting on the information, a CTD Special Weapons and Tactics team launched a targeted intelligence-based operation early on Saturday on the Tank-Dera Ismail Khan Road, the statement said.

&quot;During the operation, the terrorist was surrounded, told to surrender several times and attempts were made to arrest him. However, instead of surrendering, he opened indiscriminate fire on personnel,&quot; the statement said. It added that he was killed as the CTD retaliated.

The statement said that the slain terrorist was affiliated with the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan&#39;s Zakir Kochi Karwan group. It also said that he had been evading law enforcement agencies by concealing his identity, frequently changing his appearance and moving between locations.

The CTD said a 9mm pistol, a hand grenade and a smartphone were recovered from his possession and taken into custody for forensic examination.

It added that efforts were underway to identify and take legal action against his facilitators, financiers and logistical support network.]]>
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			<title>Public hospitals staff to be tested across Sindh</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251863/public-hospitals-staff-tested-across-sindh</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251863/public-hospitals-staff-tested-across-sindh#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 20 10:29:19 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[sameer.mandhro]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2251863</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Health department to restart contact tracing for coronavirus]]>
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				<![CDATA[The Sindh government issued directives on Saturday for all public hospitals to get its staff tested for Covid-19 as well as begin coronavirus contact tracing again.

In a letter issued by Sindh health director general Dr Irshad Ahmed Memon, a copy of which is available with The Express Tribune, the heads of all public-sector hospitals have been asked to get their respective facility's staff tested for the coronavirus on priority basis. Besides, they have been instructed to continue tests for the diagnosis of other suspected Covid-19 cases.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Dr Memon stressed the need for all hospital employees to get tested, claiming, however, that Sindh had the least number of infected health department employees among the provinces.

Another health department official, also emphasising the need for "immediate" screening of healthcare professionals, said the decision had come late.

"It is feared that most health workers do not [properly] follow standard operating procedures. This eventually leads to multiplying the number of infected persons, even in far flung areas," he explained.

This was confirmed by other officials, too, who pointed out that SOPs were particularly ignored at private clinics. They can then carry the virus to public hospitals, the officials added.

Saying that health department officials did all they could to monitor health workers and ensure they followed SOPs, they noted that it was near impossible to keep a watch over private facilities.

According to the health department, there are 1,500 rapid response teams in Sindh that collect samples for Covid-19 testing, besides serving at various healthcare facilities and helping Covid-19 patients in getting admissions to hospitals.

"But after several of them contracted the infection, the number of tests conducted daily was reduced," explained a senior health department official. He, however, added that other reasons also factored in reducing the number of tests. "[Following this], routine testing was disrupted," he explained.

Speaking on the matter, Pakistan Medical Association general secretary Dr Qaisar Sajjad also called for the immediate screening of healthcare professionals. "We had asked for it in March but orders for it have only been issued now."

He was also of the opinion that the government was giving rise to confusion by decreasing the number of tests.

"While the number of tests [conducted daily] is going down, the number of cases are shooting up," he observed, explaining that fewer cases being reported had led to people disregarding SOPs.

"Over 60 per cent citizens have stopped wearing masks," he claimed.

Contact tracing

With the health department also announcing to recommence Covid-19 contact tracing, a health department official told The Express Tribune that the exercise was stopped due to "some confusion."

"But we are starting it again so that [suspected] cases can be traced and screened," he confirmed.

The health dept's silence

Meanwhile, all senior department officials, including spokespersons, have reportedly been instructed not to talk to the media for reasons unknown. "Only a few are privy to this development," a health official, on condition of anonymity, disclosed to The Express Tribune. "We have been told not to share any information with the media." He added that none of the department's officials had access to the daily update on pandemic statistics given by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah.

"This is the only department for which the CM releases data," the official said. "And while we work in the health department, we don't have access to it." 

Published in The Express Tribune, June 28th, 2020. ]]>
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			<title>MQM-London ‘hitman’ apprehended</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2252248/mqm-london-hitman-apprehended</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2252248/mqm-london-hitman-apprehended#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 20 18:29:02 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[​ Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2252248</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Police claim he was involved in over 100 murders]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[The Special Investigation Unit (SIU) police claimed on Saturday to have arrested a notorious target killer, allegedly belonging to Muttahida Qaumi Movement-London (MQM-L) and involved in over 100 murders, during a targeted operation in Orangi Town. The police reportedly seized arms and ammunition from his possession as well.

According to SIU SSP Irfan Bahadur, the suspect, namely Shakeel alias Haddi, was a member of MQM-L’s ‘death squad’ and had confessed to the killings of Pirabad police SI Aleem Shah and Orangi Town police constable Rana Sohail in 2011, during his initial interrogation.

Bahadur added that he was also involved in an attack on Awami National Party (ANP) leader Bashir Jan and the targeted killing of ANP’s Shah Faisal Colony in-charge, Nabi Gul, among others.

The SSP claimed Shakeel had also killed a medico-legal officer at Qatar Hospital and MQM-Haqiqi’s Asif Malang, while also setting fire to the ‘astana’ of Khalid Baba, burning three people to death.

According to the police, Shakeel admitted to involvement in over 100 murders on the basis of ethnicity, sect and politics, on the orders of the MQM-L leadership.

Cases against him and other members of the ‘death squad’, including Ajmal Pahari, Saeed alias Bharam, Danish alias Mama, Omar alias Mullah, Zeeshan alias Dada, are registered in several police stations across the city, as well as with the SIU. Further investigation is underway.]]>
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			<title>2,179 people diagnosed with coronavirus in Sindh</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2252371/2179-people-diagnosed-coronavirus-sindh</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2252371/2179-people-diagnosed-coronavirus-sindh#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 20 23:50:45 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[​ Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2252371</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[CM Murad says province's daily testing capacity has been stretched to 12,000]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Syed Murad Ali Shah shared on Sunday that 2,179 people were diagnosed with coronavirus overnight, of the total 9,244 samples tested on the day.

Shah added that 435,393 samples have been tested to date in Sindh, of which 80,446 have been positive, which constituted around 18.4 per cent of the total.

The CM apprised that the testing capacity in the province has been stretched to 12,000 a day, courtesy of the laboratories established in Hyderabad, Sukkur, Larkana, Gambat and Sehwan, which have been functional for the last month.

According to Shah, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences in Hyderabad could conduct 2,000 tests, Syed Abdullah Shah Institute in Sehwan 100, Gambat Institute 300 and Ghulam Mohammad Maher Medical College in Sukkur could screen 100 samples.

Moreover, the chief minister stated that 26 more people succumbed to the contagious disease overnight, taking the death toll to 1,269 in the province. He claimed that the government has curbed the mortality rate by spreading awareness among the masses.

Shah added that 34,654 people were currently infected by the virus, of whom 33,110 were in home isolation, 88 were quarantined at isolation centres and 1,456 were being treated at different hospitals. He added that 655 patients were in critical condition and 94 of them have been put on ventilators.

Meanwhile, he said that 1,079 more patients had recovered from the contagious disease, pushing the number of recovered people to 44,523 - around 55.5 per cent of all those affected.

Furthermore, the provincial capital saw 1,406 new Covid-19 cases. He presented the district-wise breakup, saying 555 were diagnosed with the virus in East, 358 in South, 171 in Korangi, 138 in Central, 109 in West and 75 in Malir district.

Separately, Sukkur had 86 new cases, Hyderabad 54, Ghotki 40, Khairpur 38, Jamshoro 26, Mirpurkhas 22, Thatta 19, Larkana 17, Sanghar 14, Naushero Feroze 12, Matiari 12, Shikarpur 12, Shaheed Benazirabad nine, Umerkot eight, Dadu seven, Kashmore and Tando Allahyar three each, and Jacobabad one.]]>
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			<title>Youngster killed while shooting TikTok video in Karachi</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2252250/youngster-killed-shooting-tiktok-video-karachi</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2252250/youngster-killed-shooting-tiktok-video-karachi#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 20 18:39:33 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[​ Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category><category><![CDATA[archives]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2252250</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Faraz lost control of car due to speeding, rammed into tree]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[A youngster was killed and two of his friends injured in a car accident while filming a video for popular video-sharing platform TikTok in Korangi on Saturday night.

The deceased, identified as Faraz, lost control of the car he was driving due to speeding and ran into a tree. As a result, he and his friends, Ayaz and Ahsan, were injured. They were rushed to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) for treatment, where Faraz succumbed to his injured.

According to the police, the car was completely wrecked in the collision. They added that the statements of the injured could not be recorded till the filing of this report.

The body was handed over to the family after the completing of medico-legal formalities.

This is not the first time that a life has been lost while filming a TikTok video. On June 21, a 17-year-old boy accidentally shot and killed himself while making a video. He was reportedly filming himself while holding his father’s pistol to his temple when he accidentally pulled the trigger.

Karachi teenager shooting TikTok video ‘accidentally’ kills himself

Meanwhile, in April, a 22-year-old man died after being hit by a train while shooting a video at the Jumma Goth railway station in Bhens Colony.

According to the Landhi Railway police, Kashif had been running on the railway tracks while doing a TikTok challenge when the train hit him, causing critical head injuries. His friends, who were also filming videos, took him to JPMC, where he succumbed to his wounds.]]>
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			<title>Illegal plasma sale thrives in Lahore</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251888/illegal-plasma-sale-thrives-lahore</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251888/illegal-plasma-sale-thrives-lahore#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 20 10:56:28 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Imran Adnan]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2251888</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[First Covid-19 patient recovered through trial treatment last month]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[Following a surge in confirmed coronavirus cases and a significant increase in the number of patients recovering, a black market of blood plasma has emerged across the country, particularly in the provincial capital.

People are selling blood plasma of the patients who have recovered from coronavirus for tens of thousands of rupees, The Express Tribune learnt on Saturday.

The blood plasma or convalescent plasma is currently being trialled as a possible treatment for coronavirus disease in different countries, including Pakistan, as it contains antibodies developed by the immune system of people who have won the battle against the virus.

Though a large number of patients overcoming the disease are willing to donate plasma free of charge, some black sheep are using popular social media platforms to contact critically ill coronavirus patients seeking donation.

A patient who wanted to sell his blood plasma after his recent recovery said, “I don’t want to earn money but to recover my expenses incurred on the treatment since thousands of rupees were spent on medicines, consultation and food. I believe there is no harm in recovering the cost while people are selling their blood plasma for tens of thousands of rupees in the city.”



Other people involved in the unethical trade also have their own reasons. Thousands of posts are available on social media indicating that the illegal activity is happening openly without the fear of law enforcing agencies or accountability.

On June 13, a Twitter user posted her thoughts on the issue: “People are making money by selling their plasma to patients in Pakistan.

Humanity is dead.” Meanwhile, many people were of the view that there was nothing wrong with it. They commented that people also sell kidneys and blood.

Besides blood plasma, people have posted requirement for medicines such as Remdesivir, Besimivir and other drugs considered beneficial in coronavirus treatment. To save the lives of their loved ones, some people have expressed their willingness to pay any amount for these scarcely available drugs. In May, the National Institute of Blood Diseases (NIBD) confirmed that the first coronavirus patient who had been treated with plasma therapy had recovered.

The sale of oxygen cylinders is also on the rise in the online black market. A 6-litre cylinder along with regulator and stand is being offered for Rs23,000, while an 8-litre variant is being sold for Rs28,000 and 12-litre equipment is available for Rs35,000.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, an oxygen cylinder dealer, Rashid Malik, highlighted that the prices has increased three-fold owing to very high demand. “Mostly these cylinders are being imported from China, Turkey and Russia. In normal days, we were selling a 12-litre cylinder for Rs12,000 to Rs15,000 and 6-litre for Rs6,000 to Rs7,000,” he disclosed.

The Ministry of National Health Services has already announced action against illegal trading of blood plasma and black marketing of life-saving drugs used for coronavirus patients in the country. Health experts are warning citizens not to pay donors for blood plasma since it is still an experimental therapy.

As per the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act 2012, commercial dealing and trade of human organs and tissues is illegal in the country.

Section 11 of the law highlights that whoever makes or receives any payment for the supply of, or for an offer to supply, any human organ; seeks to find a person willing to supply for payment of any human organ; or offers to supply any human organ for payment shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 10 years and with fine of up to Rs1 million.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 28th, 2020.]]>
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			<title>Woman commits suicide with two daughters</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251906/woman-commits-suicide-two-daughters</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251906/woman-commits-suicide-two-daughters#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 20 10:41:58 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Tariq Saeed Awan]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2251906</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Victim’s husband wanted to marry off girls against their wish]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[A mother of seven children ended her life by consuming poisonous pills along with her two daughters over a domestic dispute in Mohalla Selwan, Kundian on Saturday.

A sense of shock and mourning spread in the neighbourhood after the incident.

As per details obtained by The Express Tribune, Muhammad Tahir Qureshi, son of Allah Din, a resident of Mohalla Selwan, and his wife had a dispute over marriage proposals for their daughters. The husband allegedly pressured his daughters to accept the marriage proposals as per his wishes, while the wife and daughters did not agree to the proposals.

As a result of the dispute, Tahir’s wife and daughters, 12-year-old Anza and 11-year-old Asma, swallowed a poisonous substance.

The mother and two daughters were shifted to a rural health centre, where doctor referred them to the Mianwali DHQ Hospital after immediate medical aid. However, the three victims could not survive.

As soon as the incident was reported, Kundian police and Rescue 1122 teams reached the spot. After postmortem was conducted and police completed the legal procedure, the bodies were handed over to the heirs.

Cases where multiple members of the same family committed suicide or were killed by their own family have been also been reported earlier in the province.

On Monday, a woman reportedly poisoned herself and four other members of her family due to financial problems in Okara.

A poor labourer of Okara, Nazar Mohammad, who failed to repay a loan, was struggling to make ends meet due to which his family often quarreled over financial issues.

Nazar’s son, 20-year-old Waqas Ahmed, married 19-year-old Naheed two months ago. The couple lived in Ghouspura neighbourhood of Basirpur Town, Okara with Nazar, his 45-year-old wife, and sons, 18-year-old Ashfaq Ahmed and 16-year-old Sattar Ahmed.

The family reportedly had a debt of Rs150,000. The whole family was worried about paying back the debt and there were often altercations in the house.

Naheed’s in-laws often pressured her to bring money from her father to settle the debt.

Reportedly, Naheed was fed up with the daily quarrels and allegedly fed her in-laws food containing poison, due to which her husband Waqas and brother-in-law Ashfaq died, while her other brother-in-law, 16-year-old Sattar Ahmed, and mother-in-law were severely affected.

In March last year, a man shot and killed his wife and three children, over a domestic dispute, before committing suicide in Rai Chand area of Chiniot.

In April 2019, a man committed suicide after killing his father and sisters over a family dispute regarding his ex-wife, whom he wished to remarry, in Shafiqabad, Lahore.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 28th, 2020.]]>
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			<title>Letter to Punjab IGP seeks ban on PUBG video game</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251900/letter-punjab-igp-seeks-ban-pubg-video-game</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251900/letter-punjab-igp-seeks-ban-pubg-video-game#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 20 10:45:21 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[​ Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category><category><![CDATA[Technology]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2251900</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Official says excessive violence in game triggers aggressive behaviour among youth]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A letter written to the Punjab inspector general of police (IGP) on Saturday sought a ban on online game Player Unknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG).

The letter was penned by SSP Liaqat Ali Malik on the instructions of CCPO Zulfiqar Hameed. It mentioned that the online video game has devastating impacts on the mental health of the youth and two incidents of suicide have been reported in the city.

It stated that excessive violence triggers aggressive behaviour among the youth and they become addicted to the game. The CCPO said the game should be banned and an awareness campaign should be launched.

A matric student had committed suicide in Gulshan-e-Abbass Phase-II a few days ago. The boy was found hanging in his room. The police also spotted a smartphone beside the body with the PUBG game app running on it.

His parents also confirmed to the police that they had stopped the boy for playing the game. In another incident, a 20-year-old student of second year at the FC College University Lahore also reportedly committed suicide after being scolded by his parents for playing the PUBG. The victim identified as Jonty Joseph was living in North Cantonment. On the day of the incident, his father reportedly reprimanded him for playing the PUBG for a long period.

He took the punishment so seriously that he locked himself inside a room. The next day when he did not open the door, the family broke it and found him hanging.

The victim also worked part-time to assist the family financially and after work would remain busy in playing the game late at night.

On May 18, a man approached the Lahore High Court to ban the video game. “The game has a negative impact on children. They are becoming more ruthless and violent,” maintained the petitioner.

The PUBG, which has been developed by a South Korean company, is a 2017 survival game in which players are dropped onto an island to battle it out against others. The multiplayer game allows players from all over the world to compete against each other or in teams.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 28th, 2020.]]>
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			<title>NGO offers transgender people foreign scholarships</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251895/ngo-offers-transgender-people-foreign-scholarships</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251895/ngo-offers-transgender-people-foreign-scholarships#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 20 10:51:06 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Asif Mehmood]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2251895</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Programme will allow selected persons to attend month-long training in host country]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[&nbsp;

While educational opportunities have been few and far between for gender minorities in Pakistan, a local NGO has stepped in to create an international platform for the development of the country’s transgender persons. The Gender Guardian (TGG), a non-governmental organisation working to train and educate transgender persons in Pakistan, has partnered with various foreign NGOs to allow transgender citizens the opportunity to participate in a month-long training program in four different countries.

Transwoman Sania Abbasi, who is a makeup artist and has been associated with TGG as a teacher for the past several months, is among the many aspirants of the training scholarship. If selected for the coveted programme, Ms Abbasi says it will bring her immense pride to be one of Pakistan’s first transgender persons sent abroad for training in social work and welfare. “This is a wonderful opportunity for us to be able to represent our country on an international platform and I have been working tirelessly towards achieving my goals. I can’t wait to work alongside international NGOs. I want to learn from them and also share my personal experiences with the world.”

According to The Gender Guardian (TGG) Head Asif Shehzad, his organisation is committed to providing equal opportunities to transgender people through the provision of free vocational training and formal education. “We have taught and trained dozens of transgender people in various skills such as driving, cooking, makeup, sewing and etc over the last couple of years. However, through this scholarship the selected participants will be able to use share their skills and talent with the world and for the first time, have access to international cultural exchange and training,” said Shehzad. Speaking further about the scholarship programme, Shehzad also informed that The Gender Guardian has been working towards compiling a digital database of transgender persons registered with TGG as well as other people who donate to the organisation. “So far, we have partnered with NGOs working in Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia. Using our database, we will select candidates every six months to be sent to these four countries for a month-long training, while people from the same four countries will also have the option to come and train in Pakistan. Our selected candidates will be working alongside their host country’s NGOs and represent Pakistan on an international level,” he explained.

Sania Abbasi, believes this scholarship will allow the people of the world to see the skills and talent of Pakistan’s transgender person, who often tend to be stereotyped as people limited to sex work. “As a gender minority, we have little no resources for pursuing higher education or going abroad, because of which we have very limited opportunities for work. However, this scholarship opportunity for transgender people to showcase their abilities and break the stereotypes associated with them,” she asserted.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 28th, 2020.]]>
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			<title>‘Pakistan’s progress linked to Balochistan peace’</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251914/pakistans-progress-linked-balochistan-peace</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251914/pakistans-progress-linked-balochistan-peace#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 20 10:35:52 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[​ Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Balochistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2251914</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[NA speaker chairs parliamentary committee meeting to discuss issues facing province]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser on Saturday asked Balochistan parliamentarians and public representatives to suggest solutions to the socio-economic problems being faced by the province and its people.

Chairing the maiden meeting of the special parliamentary committee on Balochistan in the Parliament House, Qaiser said that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) emanated from Gilgit-Baltistan and culminated in Balochistan, which increased the significance of the province.

“Balochistan and its issues are always a priority of the incumbent government,” he said. “Parliament and public representatives are the best option to put forth solutions to the socio-economic issues faced by Balochistan and its people,” he said.

“Pakistan’s progress is linked to peace and progress in Balochistan,” Qaiser said, stressing the need for the committee to look into the matters related to ensuring transfer of the real benefits of CPEC to the local people.

Committees in the parliamentary system across the world, Qaiser said, played a recommendatory role, therefore, this committee would make all-out efforts to recommend the best possible solutions to the issues faced by Balochistan.

The speaker mentioned that the issuance of an executive order, regarding immediate implementation of 6% employment quota in all federal departments, underscored the seriousness of Prime Minister Imran Khan towards addressing the issues of Balochistan.

On the occasion, the speaker formed a four-member sub-committee, headed by Dr Fehmida Mirza, to develop comprehensive terms of reference (ToRs) encompassing all the issues related to Balochistan. It was also decided that a representative from the Balochistan National Party and Defence Minister Prevaiz Khattak would be invited to assist the sub-committee in developing the ToRs.

Deputy Speaker Qasim Khan Suri appreciated the initiative of the speaker to constitute the special committee.

He noted that the government was seriously looking into the resolution of the issues confronting peace and development in the province.

Mirza, the inter-provincial coordination minster, told the committee that Balochistan’s issues had always been the top priority of the parliamentarians.

She pointed out that comprehensive ToRs were essential to make the committee more effective. Khattak said that the government had taken various steps to mitigate the grievances of the people of Balochistan.

Representing Balochistan National Party (BNP) chief Sardar Akhtar Mengal, National Assembly lawmaker Agha Hassan Baloch contended that the issues of Balochistan were getting intense since 2006 and needed to be redressed forthwith.

He called for examining the recommendations, proposed after a meeting between previous parliamentary committee, headed by Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, and late Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 28th, 2020.]]>
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			<title>Balochistan collects Rs2.5b from mineral sector</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251919/balochistan-collects-rs2-5b-mineral-sector</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251919/balochistan-collects-rs2-5b-mineral-sector#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 20 10:38:28 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[APP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Balochistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2251919</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Computerised weighing scales have been installed]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Balochistan government has collected Rs2.5 billion from the minerals sector during the current financial year, despite coronavirus pandemic and the subsequent lockdown that was imposed to curb virus spread.

The government has collected the huge amount from mining sector and deposited in the provincial treasury, an official of the Balochistan government said. Computerised weighing scales have been installed besides increasing mining check posts in the province, he added.  

Published in The Express Tribune, June 28th, 2020.]]>
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			<title>First phase of HingIaj road construction completed</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251913/first-phase-hingiaj-road-construction-completed</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251913/first-phase-hingiaj-road-construction-completed#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 20 10:35:07 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[mohammad.zafar]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Balochistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2251913</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Project was approved at a cost of Rs120 million]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The first construction phase of Hinglaj Mandir Link Road project has been successfully completed with the special funds from Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal.

The Hindu community of Lasbela has expressed gratitude to the government of Balochistan, according to official sources, as 90% of technical work of the temple stands completed.

The project was approved at a cost of Rs120 million to construct a 13km road to the temple which is adjacent to the Gwadar Coastal Highway.

The first phase of the 4.7 km Link Road project has been completed this week while phase two of the project will be completed in the next financial year.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 28th, 2020.]]>
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			<title>Bilawal, Mengal agree on joint strategy for budget</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251810/bilawal-mengal-agree-joint-strategy-budget</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251810/bilawal-mengal-agree-joint-strategy-budget#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 20 00:50:02 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Khalid Mehmood]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category><category><![CDATA[Balochistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2251810</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Both leaders express concern over spread of coronavirus in country]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto telephoned Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) chief Akhtar Mengal on Saturday and discussed the current political situation in the country.

According to details, both the leaders agreed on a joint strategy for the next year’s fiscal budget.

They also exchanged views on the 18th Constitutional Amendment and government’s measures on the National Finance Commission (NFC) award.

“By criticising the 18th Constitutional Amendment, Imran Khan is attacking the constitution,” Bilawal said.

They expressed concern over the growing number of Covid-19 patients in the country and deliberated the holding of all parties’ conference next week.

Bilawal, Shehbaz reject federal budget

“PTI-IMF budget is anti-people. We cannot accept it,” the PPP chairman said.

“Due to the incompetence of the government, coronavirus has spread everywhere,” he added.

Both the leaders also rejected the increase in the petroleum price and noted that this was the time to provide maximum relief to the people.

A few days back, Mengal announced his party's withdrawal from its alliance with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led federal government over its failure to implement accords with the party.

Speaking during a session of the National Assembly, he said: "I am officially announcing that our party is ending its alliance with the PTI. We will stay in Parliament and will keep talking about issues."

Mengal added that the PTI had signed two agreements with the party at the time of government formation after the 2018 elections and later during the presidential elections, but not a single point of the accord was implemented.]]>
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			<title>K-P wants revival of tourism hit hard by Covid</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251918/k-p-wants-revival-tourism-hit-hard-covid</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251918/k-p-wants-revival-tourism-hit-hard-covid#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 20 10:37:34 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[​ Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[K-P]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2251918</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[CM Mahmood Khan orders early opening of provincial tourism authority]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[In an effort to boost the tourism sector, which has been hit hard by the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, the provincial chief executive has directed for expediting efforts for opening the newly established provincial tourism authority.

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Mahmood Khan issued these orders while presiding over the 22nd board meeting of the Board of Directors of the Tourism Corporation of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (TCK-P).

CM Mahmood directed to finalise formalities for opening the newly established K-P Cultural Tourism Authority immediately.

The chief minister also ordered to take steps for liquidation of TCK-P and handing over its assets and liabilities to the culture and tourism authority. The TCK-P employees would be absorbed in the authority, he added.

The chief minister termed tourism as a major economic sector and said its promotion is a top priority of his government.

The meeting was briefed on the progress so far made on the liquidation of the TCK-P after the establishment of the Culture and Tourism Authority as provided in the K-P Culture and Tourism Act, 2019.

The meeting decided to constitute a committee headed by K-P Additional Chief Secretary Shakil Qadir to streamline and expedite all the legal, administrative and financial matters with regard to the liquidation of the TCK-P in a prescribed manner.

The committee would draft and present its recommendations to the competent forum within a week. Other members of the committee would finance secretary, law secretary, tourism secretary and establishment secretary.

K-P Chief Secretary Dr Kazim Niaz, Additional Chief Secretary Shakil Qadir, Finance Secretary Atif Rehman, Tourism Secretary Khushal Khan and TCK-P Managing Director Junaid Khan, private sector members of the board and other relevant officials attended the meeting.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 28th, 2020.]]>
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			<title>Poor internet access for students echoes in K-P assembly</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251303/poor-internet-access-students-echoes-assembly</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251303/poor-internet-access-students-echoes-assembly#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 27 Jun 20 09:14:06 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[shahid.hamid]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[K-P]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2251303</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Debate on Rs55.42b supplementary budget completed]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Lawmakers on Friday took up the issue of poor internet connection for students in the remote areas of the province, noting that the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic means that online classes are the only means for obtaining education for students now.

This was discussed as the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Assembly resumed on Friday to debate the provincial budget for the fiscal year 2020-21.

MPAs raised questions on online classes in the province. They urged the provincial government to ensure students have access to 3G and 4G networks, especially in the merged districts, so that they can access classes.

Moreover, they lamented that a girls college built in the Mohmand tribal district has yet to start functioning even though its structure was completed years ago.

During the discussion on the supplementary budget for the fiscal year 2019-20 worth Rs55.42 billion, the issue of a laptop scheme was raised.

Opposition lawmakers including Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) Nighat Orakzai, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl’s (JUI-F) Maulana Lutfur Rehman, Jamaat-e-Islami’s (JI) Inyatullah Khan, Mir Kalam Wazir, Shafiq Afridi, Baseerat Bibi, Khushdil Khan, Shagufta Malik and others said that a handsome amount had been allocated for the information technology sector in the supplementary budget to provide laptops to teachers.

They noted that if teachers can be provided laptops, then what about the students and called for greater transparency in the programme.

The opposition benches also raised concerns over the plight of the inmates in prisons across the province during the pandemic. They slammed the government for losing control of the bureaucracy.

Police reforms

On the directions of Deputy Speaker Mahmood Khan for a senior police officer attend the assembly proceedings, an SP level officer arrived at the assembly on Friday.

However, the deputy speaker did not allow him to enter the session as he expressed his anger over the absence of senior officers.

He then directed a DIG level officer to attend the session.

Later, Peshawar CCPO Ali Gandapur visited the assembly lobby and marked his presence.

Lawmakers from across the aisle pointed to the need for police reforms. They also asked the CCPO to explain reports of extrajudicial killings and the harassment of citizens at checkpoints set up across the province.

Members of the opposition expressed their reservations over the dormant status of the public safety commission. With no check and balance on the department, they claimed that the police was doing what it wants.

The secretary of the home department was also accused of deliberately delaying the process of activating the commission. Opposition lawmakers also pointed to the incident in the Zangi area where a motorcyclist was killed when he failed to stop at a checkpoint.

Discriminatory allocations

Shafiq Afridi from the Khyber Tribal District accused the government of dividing development funds based on the personal likes and dislikes of the finance and chief ministers. Moreover, he said that lawmaker of the merged districts has been completely ignored. 

Published in The Express Tribune, June 27th, 2020.]]>
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			<title>K-P up in arms against custodial torture</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251292/k-p-arms-custodial-torture</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251292/k-p-arms-custodial-torture#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 27 Jun 20 09:19:02 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[​ Our Correspondents]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[K-P]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2251292</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Govt asks PHC to probe yet another instance of police high-handedness]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[Scores were left injured on Friday as police and protesters clashed in the Tehkal area of the provincial capital as the latter demonstrated against the excesses of the former.

The clashes came even as the government wrote to the provincial judiciary, asking it to probe reports of police detaining an Afghan national, stripping and parading him naked and then torturing him for abusing officers in a video.

Several protests and rallies were held across the province on Friday to protest the torture of Rafiullah alias Amir of Tehkal.

The largest protests were staged in the Tehkal area, outside the Peshawar Press Club and in front of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Assembly building. Protesters filled the road from Saddar to the press club, blocking it for all sorts of traffic. Former Awami National Party (ANP) provincial assembly member Alamgir Khan Khalil and members of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Youth Wing also participated in the protest.

They held aloft banners condemning the police brutality and of filming a detainee in a compromised position and then leaking the videos. Chanting anti-police slogans, they demanded a judicial inquiry into the case and kept the road closed for nearly two hours.

As the protesters neared the provincial assembly, they were charged by police in riot gear. At this, the protesters started pelting police officers with stones.

To disperse the crowd, the police resorted to firing tear gas canisters.

The clashes left scores of protesters and police officers injured.

Meanwhile, protests against police excesses were also held in Mardan, Swabi, Bajaur, Charsadda, Nowshera, Malakand, Lower and Upper Dir, Swat and other southern districts. Lawyers, social workers, students and local political leaders participated in those protests.

Judicial inquiry

In a media briefing at the Information Cell in the Civil Secretariat on Friday, Adviser to the K-P Chief Minister on Information Ajmal Wazir said that the provincial government has written to the Peshawar High Court’s registrar to nominate a judge who will lead a judicial commission to probe the Tehkal incident under the K-P Tribunal of Inquiry Ordinance.

Wazir said that soon after the video went viral on social media, the provincial government had taken immediate action by suspending and booking the four police personnel involved, including an SHO. Moreover, the SSP Operation was removed from his post.

On the judicial commission, he confirmed that the PHC had been requested to form the probe body. He added that the body will be tasked with identifying those responsible for the incident and that later they will be tried as per the law.

Noting that the commission has been directed to complete its inquiry within 15 days, Wazir said that the government will make the inquiry public.

The adviser, however, urged the public not to malign the entire police department due to the actions of a few

“The misconduct and wrongdoings of a few personnel should not be blamed on the entire police department,” he said, reiterating the immense sacrifices rendered by the provincial police force in the war against terror apart from serving on the frontlines against the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 27th, 2020.]]>
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			<title>Another case of police excesses surfaces</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251290/another-case-police-excesses-surfaces</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251290/another-case-police-excesses-surfaces#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 27 Jun 20 09:19:42 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Yawar Hayat]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[K-P]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2251290</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The report further showed that the additional SHO had been previously found guilty of framing a man in a fake case]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[After Peshawar, a case of police excesses has emerged from Haripur where a senior police officer allegedly beat up a clerk at a filling station for refusing service to his son.

A report submitted to the district police officer's (DPO0 office stated that additional SHO SI Muhammad Nawaz's son had gone to a filling station in the Batrassi area of Haripur to get fuel for his motorbike. Because he was not wearing a face mask nor a helmet, the clerk on duty refused to provide him with service as per a campaign being run by the district police.

At this, additional SHO Nawaz and his driver arrived at the fuel station where they beat up the workers. Nawaz’s driver also allegedly snatched cash from the cashier's pocket and then fled.

The owner of the filling station and workers subsequently approached the DPO and urged him to intervene. The DPO took notice of the incident and suspended Nawaz and launched an inquiry.

The report further showed that the additional SHO had been previously found guilty of framing a man in a fake case and allegedly took a bribe to set the case aside.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 27th, 2020.]]>
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			<title>Virus cases in Indian Occupied Kashmir top 7,000</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2252336/virus-cases-indian-occupied-kashmir-top-7000</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2252336/virus-cases-indian-occupied-kashmir-top-7000#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 20 23:11:02 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Anadolu Agency]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category><category><![CDATA[Jammu &amp; Kashmir]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2252336</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[2,700 infections, including 41 virus-linked deaths, confirmed in last 2 weeks]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Coronavirus cases in the Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJ&amp;K) region crossed the 7,000-mark including 94 deaths, officials said on Sunday.

As many as 127 new cases were reported in the last 24 hours, taking the national tally to 7,093, according to the latest data by the government.

Since June 13, the data revealed, about 2,700 cases have been registered while 41 people, including a 15-day-old baby, have died.

The Doctors Association of Kashmir has warned of community transmission, saying that more than 90% of the region's population is susceptible to the infection.

AJK president lauds Joe Biden for urging India to restore people’s rights in IOJ&amp;K

Dr Suhail Naik, who heads the association, told Anadolu Agency the recent numbers indicate that the virus has arrived in the community, and is going to spread amid an ease in restrictions.

“We cannot bear the excess load of cases in our underdeveloped healthcare systems... the only remedy available is social distancing, hygiene and prevention,” he said.

While educational institutions remain closed, and public transport is still suspended in the region, some businesses have reopened.

As the pandemic crisis is looming, Indian forces continued their human rights violation in the valley, killing over 130 freedom fighters in over 40 gunfights in 2020 so far.]]>
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			<title>AJK president lauds Joe Biden for urging India to restore people’s rights in IOJ&amp;K</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2252239/ajk-president-lauds-joe-biden-urging-india-restore-peoples-rights-iojk</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2252239/ajk-president-lauds-joe-biden-urging-india-restore-peoples-rights-iojk#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 20 22:27:03 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[​ Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category><category><![CDATA[Jammu &amp; Kashmir]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2252239</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[US former vice president has said restrictions on dissent, such as preventing peaceful protests, weaken democracy.]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[While welcoming US Democratic presidential nominee and former vice president Joe Biden’s statements over the restoration of rights of Kashmiris, Azad Jammu and Kashmir President Sardar Masood Khan has said that Biden’s remarks are a proof that the world community has refused to buy the Indian narrative on Occupied Kashmir.

Biden has asked New Delhi to take all necessary steps to restore rights of all the people of Kashmir and asserted that restrictions on dissent, such as preventing peaceful protests or shutting or slowing down internet, weakens democracy.

The US ex-vice president also expressed disappointment over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the enforcement of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in different states of India.

“We welcome the US Democratic Party leader’s remarks and urge Indian-Americans and Muslim-Americans to applaud Joe Biden’s policy statement together because nobody wants India to be ruled by theocratic fascists. Kashmiris’ liberties and fundamental rights, especially their right to self-determination, should be restored. It’s a just demand,” President Masood said in Muzaffarabad on Sunday.

Earlier addressing a function held in connection with the disbursement of cash grant among the affectees of Indian shelling living along the Line of Control (LoC), the AJK president said that relief being provided by the federal government to 610,000 members of 80,000 families is the recognition of their sacrifices as well as acknowledgement of the responsibilities being shouldered by the state government.

"Azad Kashmir is not only a strong defence line of Pakistan, but the people living close to the LoC and facing India's direct aggression are the defenders of the motherland," he added.

While commenting on Prime Minister Imran Khan's announcement to include more than 100,000 people affected by the Indian firing at the LoC in the Ehsaas Emergency Cash Programme and to issue health cards to 1.2 million people of Azad Kashmir, he said that the people of occupied and the liberated territory want to become part of Pakistan not because of geographical location but on the basis of their faith and ideology.

Joe Biden seeks restoration of peoples’ rights in Occupied Kashmir

The AJK president said that India's ruling party BJP and the RSS have planned to eliminate the Kashmiri people, occupy their lands, reduce the number of Muslims in the assembly of Occupied Kashmir, and to turn the whole state into a colony of India, but the people of both the liberated and occupied parts of Kashmir would offer stiff resistance.

He went on to say that it is high time that the government and the people of Pakistan as well as the valiant people of Azad Kashmir adopt an aggressive policy to counter India because "India is constantly threatening to attack Pakistan, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan".

"Instead of saying that we will defend Pakistan and Azad Kashmir, we should also talk about the liberation of Khalistan, Assam, Tamil Nadu and Mizoram, and tell the world that India is no longer a secular state but it has emerged as a fascist state," he added.

President Masood also said that India's anti-Muslim moves have awakened the Muslims across the world, and a wave for the renaissance of Islam has risen in the whole Muslim world. "It is now clear that whether it is Kashmir or Palestine, the Muslims are prepared to safeguard their interest."

Referring to Azad Kashmir, he said that the liberated territory can emerge as an economic engine for Pakistan. At present, he maintained, that 2,000 megawatts of electricity is being generated in Azad Kashmir while the territory has a potential of producing another 8,000 megawatts of electricity "though our own demand is between 300 and 400 megawatts, and the surplus electricity is injected into the national grid".

On completion of Kohala, Gulpur, Azad Pattan, Dudhnial and many other projects in the coming decade, Azad Kashmir will become the biggest electricity generating region of Pakistan.

President Masood said that Azad Kashmir is not only strategically important for Pakistan's defence but it can also play an important role in the economic uplift of the country. "That is why, we say that Pakistan is incomplete without Kashmir and Kashmir has no identity without Pakistan."]]>
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			<title>Hinduism being masqueraded as secularism in India, says AJK president</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251761/hinduism-masqueraded-secularism-india-says-ajk-president</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251761/hinduism-masqueraded-secularism-india-says-ajk-president#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 20 00:33:43 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[​ Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Jammu &amp; Kashmir]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2251761</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Masood says 13,000 Kashmiri boys have been abducted and kept in prison houses where they're being subjected to torture]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Sardar Masood Khan, the president Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), has said that after grudgingly accepting the independence of Pakistan, India adopted a secular doctrine, an insincere attempt to hide prevalent Hindu nationalism under the guise of secularism.

He made these remarks while addressing two separate web-conferences organised by the Institute of Policy Studies on the topic of “India: Past, Present &amp; Future: Perceptions of the Muslim World”; and by the Pakistan High Commission UK on the topic “Seeking Justice for Kashmiri Victims of Sexual Violence and Physical Torture, and Widows”.

Speaking at the IPS session – which was attended by leading international experts from the United States, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Nigeria – the president said Hindu fascists romanticise an imaginary state of "Akhand Baharat" that they claim to have existed before the arrival of Muslim rulers in the sub-continent. This notion, he said, is not only unsubstantiated by history, it is also counterintuitive.

Referring to the faux secularism adopted by India, the AJK president said that over the decades, this glue of secularism had has come off and the real face of India’s political masters has been exposed. "Not long after independence, on 27 October 1947, India began working on its imperialistic agenda, and invaded the Jammu and Kashmir State. Driven by its Hindu-extremist policy, India has carried on with this agenda over the years," he said.

Masood Khan said that lawmakers and the leadership of BJP, the RSS and their affiliates have publicly declared that they would do away with Muslims from within India. This, he said, has caught the attention of Hindu zealots from across India which has consequently impacted the larger political landscape of the neighbouring country.

This BJP-RSS nexus has waged three wars in the region; one against its minorities inside its own borders, the second one against Kashmiris in the occupied territory of Kashmir and the third one against all its neighbouring countries. "Considering Pakistan as enemy number one, they have threatened to wipe off Pakistan from the face of the earth by the use of nuclear weapons," he informed.

The AJK president said that India’s ambition of becoming a colonial and imperial power in the region has led it to using the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh for sabotaging the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). It has also formed a four-member alliance QUAD – comprising of India, USA, Japan and Australia – to oppose the BRI and, especially, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

“India is the biggest barrier for progress in the region. SAARC has been struggling for decades and that too because India has been standing in the way of economic integration as it wants to establish its hegemony in South Asia,” said the president.

'Existing tensions surfacing in new China-India row'

Speaking about the situation in IOJ&amp;K, he said that India is practicing the policy of lebensraum by reoccupying the State of Jammu and Kashmir, bifurcating it and now bringing it under the direct rule of Delhi. He compared the new domicile rules introduced in the occupied valley, to the policy followed by Nazi Germany against the Jews, based initially on economic strangulation, followed by demonisation and marginalisation and finally physical extermination.

The president apprised that in IOJ&amp;K political leaders have been incarcerated, the youth are being killed and tortured in jails all over Occupied Kashmir and northern India. He added that 13,000 Kashmiri boys have been abducted and kept in prison houses where they are being subjected to torture and brainwashing. Bipin Rawat, India’s Chief of Defence Staff, has said that these boys (some as young as 10 years old) are more dangerous than a pellet-firing shotgun because they raise the slogan of Azadi (freedom) and self-determination, he said.

The AJK president said that members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) should start a boycott, divestment and sanctions movement against India, while the corporate sector of these countries should be discouraged to invest in India as they are committing human rights violations against Kashmiris and Muslims of India.

"Start by banning the import of non-halal meat into OIC countries and the formation of a Kashmir Humanitarian Fund with the help of the Islamic Development Bank and Islamic Solidarity Fund.”

He also suggested an international civil society movement be mobilised to delegitimise Hindutva and campaign to declare RSS a terrorist organisation. “The biggest and the most trained terrorist organisation in the world is the RSS. They have openly declared to target Muslims not only in South Asia but all over the world”, he added.

Appreciating the supportive role of the OIC, Masood Khan appealed to the Arab League and the Gulf Cooperation Council to raise their voice against Kashmir and call out the egregious human rights violations taking place in IOJ&amp;K.

Speaking at the web-conference hosted by Pakistan High Commission, the president appealed to powerful nations to make moral and legal choices for bringing India to justice and helping dismantle this machine of torture in IOJ&amp;K. “Silence is a crime when such torture is openly taking place in any part of the world”, he said.

He added that 25,000 Hindus from all over India have been given domiciles of IOJ&amp;K; and in the same manner, in which Muslim Indians have become second class citizens, Kashmiris have to run from pillar to post just to prove that they are state subjects. “If we don’t stop this now, IOJ&amp;K won’t be a recognisable entity like it is today. Two million Hindus will be brought in over the coming years” he said.

The AJK president said that India’s non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council will lead to three setbacks in the Council. Firstly, it will try to delete the agenda from the UNSC calendar; secondly, they would make efforts to stop us from holding informal meetings on Kashmir; and thirdly, they will imperil funding of the mandate of the UNMOGIP. “As a permanent member of the UNSC, the United Kingdom can stop this and create a balance in the UNSC,” said the president while speaking to his audience.

He urged the British citizenry and its civil society to lead the campaign of letter writing and awareness-raising on Kashmir in the international realm.

He also thanked MP Steve Baker for his active and vocal role in raising his voice for the Kashmir people by authoring a letter. He urged him to use his clout with 10 Downing Street and the FCO to mobilise the UK towards Kashmir advocacy in both the British Parliament and the UNSC.

The web-conference hosted by the Pakistan High Commission London was attended by Pakistan High Commissioner to the UK Nafees Zakaria, MP Afzal Khan, MP Naz Shah, MP Steve Baker, MP Tony Lloyd, MP, Imran Hussain, MP Khalid Mahmood, Lord Qurban Hussain, Councillor Aasim Rashid, Mr Muzammil  Ayub Thakur, Chairman JKSDMI Raja Najabat Hussain, President Tahreek-e-Kashmir UK Fahim Kiyani, Dr Nazir GIllani, Syed Ali Raza, Shaista Safi and other leading members of the civil society.]]>
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			<title>World leaders urged to help end Indian atrocities against Kashmiris</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2250999/world-leaders-urged-help-end-indian-atrocities-kashmiris</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2250999/world-leaders-urged-help-end-indian-atrocities-kashmiris#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 26 Jun 20 21:06:07 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[​ Our Correspondent]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category><category><![CDATA[Jammu &amp; Kashmir]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2250999</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[On International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, AJK president condemns BJP-RSS regime]]>
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				<![CDATA[Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) President Sardar Masood Khan has urged the international community and United Nations to help end the most "cruel, inhumane and degrading" treatment of the people of Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJ&amp;K) by occupation forces,

“We fully agree with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres’s statement that torturers must never be allowed to get away with their crimes, and systems that enable torture should be dismantled or transformed,” he said in a video message released on the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture observed across the globe on Friday.

The AJK president said that torture is a crime against humanity and it is prohibited by international law and all religions. "Yet, this crime is committed everyday by the Indian forces and authorities in the occupied territory, most brutally and systematically."

He appealed to the United Nations not to generalise and blur the focus on torture where it is pervasive. In Occupied Kashmir, he said, torture is most rampant and most egregious.

“Torture has been committed by the BJP-RSS regime by reoccupying and colonising Jammu and Kahsmir against the will of its 14 million people, dividing their state into two parts, and enforcing decrees whereby the entire territory is now ruled by a foreign capital, Delhi."

While lambasting the Modi-led government, President Masood said: “As we mark this day today, Kashmiri young men are hunted down and killed in cold blood in fake encounters, demonstrators are blinded and sexual molestation is used as a weapon of war.”

Kashmiris, he went on to say, are being deprived of their homeland by bringing Hindus from all over India and settling them in the occupied territory through new domicile rules.

“Stripped of their permanent residence rights, Kashmiris are being robbed of their jobs, livelihoods, businesses and land. Systematically, the demography of the disputed valley is being altered permanently."

PM urges int'l community to hold India accountable for atrocities in IOJ&amp;K

The AJK president said what India is doing in occupied region is a war crime according to the Fourth Geneva Convention, the ICC Statute and international humanitarian law.

Referring to arbitrary arrest of political leaders and political activists, he said thousands of political detainees  – illegally incarcerated – are being subjected to the vicious torture leading in many instances to death and disability.

President Masood demanded that political prisoners in the Tihar jail in India - Yasin Malik, Asiya Indrabi, Shabbir Shah - should be released forthwith and Syed Ali Geelani and other Hurriyet leaders - hundreds of them holed up in cramped prisons - should be set free.

Some 13,000 boys and children, as young as 10, are caged in concentration camps where they are being tortured and brainwashed, he said while calling for the international community led by the United Nations to play ts role for their release.

He also made a demand that India should be asked to repeal all draconian laws that empower occupation forces to commit crimes with impunity.

“Kashmiris are citizens of planet Earth. Listen to their screams of SOS. Save their bodies; save their souls. Silence too is a crime while such massive torture is taking place right before our eyes.”]]>
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			<title>Govt cuts profit rates on savings schemes</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619071/govt-cuts-profit-rates-on-savings-schemes</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619071/govt-cuts-profit-rates-on-savings-schemes#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 18 Jul 26 20:51:49 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2619071</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[National Savings is one of the primeval institutions in the country with a legacy of more than 140 years]]>
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				<![CDATA[The federal government has reduced the profit rates on various National Savings Pakistan schemes, according to a notification issued on Saturday. Under the revised rates, the annual profit on the Behbood Savings Certificate and the Pensioners&#39; Benefit Account has been fixed at 12.96%.

The notification said the monthly profit rate on the Regular Income Certificate has been reduced to 11.52%. As a result, an investment of Rs100,000 in the scheme will now yield a monthly profit of Rs960.

It further stated that the profit on the Special Savings Certificate has been set at 11.2% for the first six months and 12.6% for the remaining six months. According to the notification, the annual profit rate on the Shuhada Family Welfare Account has also been revised to 12.96%.

National Savings is one of the primeval institutions in the country with a legacy of more than 140 years that came into existence with the promulgation of Government Savings Bank Act in 1873.

It seeks to promote and inculcate the habit of thrift for mobilization of savings and is the preferred institution for small savers.]]>
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			<title>Govt shifts to daily POL pricing amid global headwinds</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2618933/govt-shifts-to-daily-pol-pricing-amid-global-headwinds</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2618933/govt-shifts-to-daily-pol-pricing-amid-global-headwinds#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 17 Jul 26 21:55:44 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[ZAFAR BHUTTA]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2618933</guid>
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				<![CDATA[Ministers say move aims at enhancing transparency
  Diesel up by Rs31.05 per litre, petrol Rs5.44
  Petrol pump owne]]>
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				<![CDATA[The federal government on Friday announced that petroleum product prices would now be reviewed and notified on a daily basis, replacing the weekly pricing mechanism, as renewed tensions between the United States and Iran continue to drive volatility in global oil markets and raise concerns over fuel supplies.

Under the new pricing mechanism, the government increased the ex-depot price of High-Speed Diesel (HSD) by Rs31.05 per litre, from Rs323.30 to Rs354.35, while the price of petrol was raised by Rs5.44 per litre, from Rs310.71 to Rs316.15, with the revised rates taking effect from July 18, 2026.

Officials said the daily review system would allow domestic fuel prices to reflect changes in international oil markets more quickly while reducing the risk of supply disruptions and speculative hoarding.

The decision comes after the government had already shifted from fortnightly to weekly fuel price revisions following the first phase of the US-Iran conflict.

With tensions escalating again after a fresh exchange of strikes and growing concerns over disruptions to oil supplies through the Strait of Hormuz, authorities have opted for daily price adjustments to ensure uninterrupted fuel availability and greater transparency in the pricing mechanism.

At a news conference alongside Information Minister Ataullah Tarar, Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik said the decision had been taken at a federal cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Malik said the move was aimed at enhancing transparency in petroleum pricing without exposing the state to financial risks.

&quot;The federal cabinet and the prime minister decided that, without exposing the state to any risk, the responsibility would be assigned to Ogra to determine petroleum prices daily in line with international market trends. Ogra will not only publish on its website the Platts benchmark rates, which are used globally to determine petroleum prices, but will also disclose the components that make up the final price consumers pay at petrol pumps. Ogra has been directed to publish all these details so that people know why these prices are unavoidable,&quot; he said.

Malik said it was unfortunate that despite Pakistan&#39;s leadership making &quot;tremendous efforts&quot; to steer the region towards reconciliation and a lasting ceasefire, tensions had once again begun escalating.

&quot;It is unfortunate that despite the sincere efforts made by our leadership, especially Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, to move the region towards reconciliation and a permanent ceasefire, tensions are once again rising,&quot; he said.

The minister said petroleum prices, which had already witnessed sharp fluctuations during previous bouts of regional tensions, were once again rising.

He said diesel prices had increased significantly over the past few days, adding that the Platts benchmark for diesel had risen from $110 per barrel to $140 per barrel as of Friday.

Referring to petrol prices, Malik said the Platts benchmark had increased from around $89 per barrel to nearly $100 per barrel, pushing energy prices higher in international markets.

The minister thanked the public for their patience despite the hardships, saying people had shared the burden alongside the government despite a Rs130 billion subsidy and a targeted subsidy programme being implemented in coordination with the provincial governments.

&quot;Today&#39;s decision is aimed at bringing greater transparency to the entire system so that people themselves can understand why increases in petroleum prices become unavoidable,&quot; he said.

Malik added that if the government had adopted the same approach taken by a previous administration in 2022, the public would have continued paying the price for years through higher inflation.

He acknowledged that the latest decision would be difficult for consumers but said it was necessary to strengthen the state.

Rejecting the perception that the government had increased the burden on consumers through higher levies or had failed to pass on the benefit of lower international oil prices, Malik said:

&quot;The government remains committed to its promise. Just as the price of diesel has fallen from Rs520 per litre to below Rs300 per litre, people have also witnessed a substantial reduction of Rs70 to Rs80 in petrol prices.&quot;

He added that the decline in international oil prices had been fully passed on to consumers.

Clarifying the issue of the petroleum levy, Malik said Pakistan was required under international agreements to maintain such levies to support the budget.

He said the combined petroleum levy and carbon support levy on petrol remained lower than before the conflict began and that no additional burden had been imposed on the public beyond Pakistan&#39;s international commitments.

The minister said daily petroleum prices would be determined on the basis of the average Platts benchmark over the previous seven working days.

&quot;It will be ensured that whenever prices go up, they increase accordingly, and whenever they come down, they automatically decline without requiring approval from the prime minister, Ata sahab, or me, and the relief will be passed on to the public immediately on a daily basis,&quot; he said, describing the move as another step towards deregulation.

Malik also said the prime minister had directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and all law enforcement agencies to take strict action against anyone involved in profiteering in the oil sector.

Addressing the press conference, Information Minister Ataullah Tarar said the new pricing mechanism would ensure that changes in international oil prices were reflected immediately in domestic fuel prices.

&quot;With petroleum prices being determined daily, the criticism that changes in international prices are not transferred immediately will no longer hold. Whatever increase or decrease takes place will be passed on without delay,&quot; he said, adding that the move would bring greater transparency to the pricing system.

Tarar also dismissed the perception that the government had substantially increased the petroleum levy.

&quot;There is a misconception that the levy has increased substantially, but the levy is still lower than it was before the war. Since there has been no increase in the levy now, the entire mechanism for determining oil prices will become more transparent,&quot; he said.

Highlighting the need to shift towards cleaner transportation, Tarar said Pakistan would eventually have to adopt electric vehicles.

&quot;If our import bill continues to rise and the public continues to bear the impact of fluctuations in international oil prices, the best solution is for us to gradually move towards electric vehicles and electric motorcycles,&quot; he said.

Petrol, diesel prices revised

Under the new daily pricing mechanism, the Ministry of Energy (Petroleum Division) revised ex-depot petroleum prices for July 18, 2026, increasing petrol and diesel prices by up to Rs31 per litre in line with international market trends.

The price of High-Speed Diesel (HSD) was increased by Rs31.05 per litre, from Rs323.30 to Rs354.35 per litre.

Meanwhile, the price of petrol was increased by Rs5.44 per litre, from Rs310.71 to Rs316.15 per litre.

The government is currently charging a petroleum levy of Rs70.82 per litre on retail sales of HSD and Rs79.46 per litre on direct sales, along with a Rs5 carbon support levy (CSL).

On petrol, it is charging Rs80 per litre as petroleum levy and Rs5 per litre as CSL at retail outlets.

The government is also charging a petroleum levy of Rs105 per litre on HOBC (97 RON) and MS (95 RON), while the levy on Superior Kerosene Oil and Light Diesel Oil stands at Rs20.36 and Rs15.84 per litre, respectively, with no carbon support levy.

For furnace oil, the petroleum levy stands at Rs77 per litre (Rs82,077 per metric tonne) for both retail and direct sales, in addition to a Rs5 per litre (Rs5,330 per metric tonne) carbon support levy.

The Petroleum Division said the revised prices would remain effective for July 18, 2026 only.

Officials said the shift to daily pricing would also discourage petroleum dealers allegedly involved in hoarding fuel products in anticipation of price increases.

Last week, under the weekly review mechanism, the government had increased petrol and diesel prices by up to Rs13.80 per litre.

Officials said international oil prices had surged again following the renewed conflict between Iran and the United States and concerns over the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, threatening global oil supplies, including those to Pakistan.

Domestic fuel prices had initially declined following the Iran-US peace deal but started rising again after fresh hostilities resumed.

The renewed conflict has also raised concerns over potential fuel shortages in the country.

High-speed diesel is widely used in the transport and agriculture sectors, while petrol is primarily consumed by motorcycles and cars. Officials said petrol demand has increased following restrictions on the use of indigenous gas in Punjab.

Kerosene oil continues to be used in remote areas, particularly in the country&#39;s northern regions where LPG is not readily available for cooking, while the Pakistan Army remains one of its principal users. Light diesel oil is primarily used by industry.

Petrol pump owners reject policy

Meanwhile, the All Pakistan Petrol Pump Owners Association rejected the government&#39;s petroleum price deregulation policy, warning that it would consider launching protests and a nationwide strike next week if the decision was not withdrawn.

In a video statement, the association&#39;s chairman, Nauman Ali Butt, urged the government to review the policy, saying petrol pump owners should not bear the burden of the new system.

He demanded that all stakeholders be taken into confidence before oil marketing companies (OMCs) finalised fuel prices under the proposed mechanism.

Butt said nearly 15,000 petrol pump owners across the country had expressed serious reservations over the policy.

He warned that the new mechanism would affect oil tankers, transportation and the overall fuel pricing system.

The association&#39;s chairman also called on the government to consult petrol pump owners instead of making unilateral decisions.]]>
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			<title>Power consumers may face tariff hike</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2618921/power-consumers-may-face-tariff-hike</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2618921/power-consumers-may-face-tariff-hike#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 17 Jul 26 21:14:19 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2618921</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[DISCOs seek Rs1.20 per unit fuel cost hike for August]]>
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				<![CDATA[Electricity consumers across Pakistan could face another increase in power bills next month after power companies sought a Rs1.20 per unit fuel cost adjustment (FCA) for August, citing higher generation costs driven largely by expensive imported fuels, particularly Regasified Liquefied Natural Gas (RLNG).

If approved by the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra), the proposed adjustment will allow power utilities, including the ex-Wapda distribution companies (Discos) and K-Electric, to recover an additional Rs15.7 billion from consumers through August electricity bills.

Nepra has scheduled a public hearing on July 29 to examine the request.

The petition was filed by the Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA), which said electricity demand in June 2026 was marginally lower than in the corresponding month last year.

According to the agency, power consumption stood at 13,066 million units in June this year, compared with 13,310 million units in June 2025.

According to the CPPA, the principal factor behind the increase in fuel costs was the sharp rise in RLNG prices. The fuel cost of RLNG-based generation climbed to about Rs35 per unit, nearly double the Rs16 per unit recorded in June last year.

The agency said the reference fuel cost for June 2026 had been fixed at Rs7.714 per unit, but the actual cost reached Rs8.90 per unit, creating a gap that requires an additional Rs1.20 per unit to be recovered from consumers through the monthly FCA mechanism.

Fuel costs also rose because of limited reliance on furnace oil- and diesel-fired power plants, which generated electricity at around Rs52 per unit and Rs57 per unit, respectively.

However, together they accounted for less than one per cent of the national electricity supply.

Despite the proposed increase, the country&#39;s generation mix remained dominated by relatively cheaper domestic sources. Hydropower, which carries no fuel cost, contributed 39 per cent of total electricity generation in June.

Local coal accounted for 10 per cent, local gas 6.5 per cent, and nuclear power 13.5 per cent, while wind contributed 5 per cent, solar 0.82 per cent, and bagasse-based generation 0.35 per cent.

The CPPA reported that electricity generated from local coal cost Rs11.5 per unit, compared with Rs16.65 per unit from imported coal. Generation using local gas cost Rs13.7 per unit, whereas RLNG-based generation stood at Rs35.5 per unit. Nuclear power remained among the least expensive sources, with a reported fuel cost of Rs2.85 per unit.]]>
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			<title>Police begin PO proceedings against CM Afridi</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2618913/police-begin-po-proceedings-against-cm-afridi</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2618913/police-begin-po-proceedings-against-cm-afridi#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 17 Jul 26 21:14:19 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Fiaz Mahmood]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2618913</guid>
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				<![CDATA[Police assured the court that the challan would be submitted immediately after its completion]]>
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				<![CDATA[Police have informed an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad that they have initiated proclaimed offender (PO) proceedings against Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and PTI leaders Junaid Akbar and Abdul Ghani Afridi in a case related to the Nov 26, 2024 incidents.

The Islamabad Police have submitted a report before the court in a case registered at Margalla Police Station. They have filed the report in response to the court&#39;s notice regarding the non-submission of the challan against the accused, including Afridi, Akbar and Ghani.

According to the report submitted by the deputy inspector general of Islamabad Police, non-bailable arrest warrants for the accused were obtained in compliance with the court&#39;s order dated June 23, 2026. However, despite repeated efforts, the warrants could not be executed, the report stated.

Police informed the court that, following the failure to execute the warrants, proceedings to declare the accused proclaimed offenders had been initiated in accordance with the law.

The report further stated that once the proclaimed offender proceedings are completed, preparation of the challan under Section 173 of the Code of Criminal Procedure will enter its final stage.

Police assured the court that the challan would be submitted immediately after its completion. According to the report, there had been no negligence, delay or lack of effort at any stage of the investigation or legal proceedings in the case.]]>
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			<title>Kundi calls for united stand to secure K-P's rights</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2618882/kundi-calls-for-united-stand-to-secure-k-ps-rights</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2618882/kundi-calls-for-united-stand-to-secure-k-ps-rights#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 17 Jul 26 20:52:37 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Khyber Pakhtunkhwa]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2618882</guid>
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				<![CDATA[He stressed that province must raise its voice effectively for its constitutional rights]]>
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				<![CDATA[Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi on Friday said the people of the province and the country&#39;s security forces had rendered unparalleled sacrifices in the fight against terrorism, but regretted that a lack of resources was often cited whenever the province&#39;s constitutional rights were discussed.

Addressing the First Achievement Awards 2026 ceremony organised by the Haripur Chamber of Commerce and Industry at the Governor House in Peshawar, Kundi said the opposition would stand shoulder to shoulder with the government on every issue concerning the province&#39;s interests and would play its full role in promoting Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa&#39;s development.

He stressed that the province must raise its voice effectively for its constitutional rights through constitutional and legal means.

The ceremony was attended by Iranian Consul General Ali Banafshehkhah, Haripur Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman Syed Ahmad Jan, Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Junaid Altaf, Syed Ahmad Sikandar, Haji Attaur Rehman, and office-bearers of the Haripur Chamber.]]>
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			<title>NDMA warns after Tarbela spillways opened</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2618914/ndma-warns-after-tarbela-spillways-opened</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2618914/ndma-warns-after-tarbela-spillways-opened#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 17 Jul 26 21:14:19 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2618914</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Advised people to stay away from waterways and river channels during periods of high flow]]>
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				<![CDATA[The NDMA on Friday warned of an expected increase in water flow in the Indus River after the spillways of Tarbela Dam were opened.

According to the NDMA, releasing water from the spillways is expected to significantly increase river flows in downstream areas along the Indus. The authority urged the public to avoid recreational and tourism activities along the river, warning that strong currents could pose serious risks.

It also advised people to stay away from waterways and river channels during periods of high flow.

The NDMA said higher water flows are particularly expected in the low-lying areas along the Indus River, especially in the districts of Layyah, Bhakkar and Mianwali.

It attributed the increase in river discharge to rapidly melting glaciers caused by rising temperatures, coupled with rainfall in the upper catchment areas.

The authority said it is continuously monitoring the evolving situation, conducting advance risk assessments and ensuring the timely dissemination of necessary information to relevant departments and the public to minimise potential hazards.]]>
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			<title>SC upholds FBR's stance in tax case</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2618912/sc-upholds-fbrs-stance-in-tax-case</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2618912/sc-upholds-fbrs-stance-in-tax-case#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 17 Jul 26 21:14:19 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2618912</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Court further emphasised that mandatory legal requirements, particularly those concerning banking channels]]>
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				<![CDATA[The Supreme Court of Pakistan has ruled that claims for input tax adjustment on construction materials, such as cement and steel used in the construction of factories or other immovable structures, are not admissible under the Sales Tax Act, 1990.

The court further emphasized that mandatory legal requirements, particularly those concerning banking channels and the deposit of tax into the national exchequer, could not be overlooked. A three-member bench, comprising Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Irfan Saadat Khan, and Justice Shakeel Ahmed, accepted the civil appeal filed by the Commissioner Inland Revenue.]]>
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			<title>Pakistan and Kuwait discuss expanded defence pact, sources say</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2618827/pakistan-and-kuwait-discuss-expanded-defence-pact-sources-say</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2618827/pakistan-and-kuwait-discuss-expanded-defence-pact-sources-say#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 17 Jul 26 17:02:31 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2618827</guid>
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				<![CDATA[Talks remain at an early stage and could still be complicated by ‌heightened tensions between US and Iran]]>
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				<![CDATA[Pakistan has been negotiating an expanded defence pact with Kuwait in exchange for energy cooperation and investment, according ​to five sources with knowledge of the talks.

The talks remain at an early stage, all the sources said, and could still be complicated by &zwnj;heightened tensions between the United States and Iran, said one source.

Reuters reported on Thursday that there were mounting concerns in Islamabad that its mutual defence pact with Saudi Arabia, signed last year, could draw Pakistan into the US-Iran war. After the Houthis launched an attack on Saudi Arabia on Monday, nuclear-armed Pakistan told Iran it would treat attacks on the kingdom as attacks on itself.

Any defence deal ​with Kuwait, which has come under heavy attacks from Iran this year, would also raise questions about Pakistan&#39;s role in future mediation between the US and ​Iran.

Kuwait has had a more limited defence deal with Pakistan for training and joint exercises since 2023. It is now seeking ⁠a show of force by Islamabad that would be similar to Pakistan&#39;s pact with Saudi Arabia, including &quot;thousands of Pakistani troops on the ground, fighter jets, drones, an air defence ​system, and other defence-related facilities&quot;, said a Pakistani government official.

It is unclear whether Pakistan is willing to go this far, given that its agreement with Saudi Arabia was the ​result of a decades-old close alliance with Riyadh.

&quot;Kuwait&#39;s wish list includes everything,&quot; said a Pakistani security official with knowledge of the talks. &quot;But let me be clear about one thing: We are not, and we cannot consider a deployment of combat troops at this stage.&quot;

A Middle Eastern source confirmed that Kuwait has been in conversations with Pakistan, including about defence procurement, but said it was &quot;not clear this ​will amount to a defence pact per se&quot;.

Reuters spoke to four Pakistani sources and one Middle Eastern source, none of whom was authorised to speak on the record.

The Inter-Services Public Relations&nbsp;and Kuwait&#39;s information ministry did not respond to requests for comment.

Search for defence alternatives

Pakistan and Gulf states have, over the past year, seen advantages to striking new regional defence &zwnj;pacts.

Pakistan maintains ⁠a large military and produces its own fighter jets. This has made it a possible alternative or addition to US protection among Gulf states, as they have grown more wary about the reliability of the US as an ally.

Pakistan is seen in Kuwait as a safe bet, said a source in the Middle East familiar with Kuwait&#39;s security planning.

&quot;They are already in with the Saudis, they have a long history of defence development, they are Muslim Sunni, they have a good relationship with the Americans, so it&#39;s ​not as sensitive as some other options,&quot; ​the source said.

Turkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have ⁠been preparing a draft agreement for a mutual defence pact, separate from the one Islamabad has with Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, Bahrain is interested in a similar pact, one source said, and Jordan has expressed interest in a weapons and training deal, three sources ​said.

Barrels for boots

Pakistan has viewed defence deals with neighbouring nations as a way to shore up investments the country urgently needs.

As ​part of the possible ⁠deal with Kuwait, Islamabad would want cooperation on energy security &mdash; part of a wider push by the&nbsp;energy ministry to boost Pakistan&#39;s&nbsp;oil and fuel reserves.

Kuwait is exploring a bonded fuel storage with Pakistan that would build on an existing government-to-government diesel supply deal between the two countries, a Pakistani source aware of the talks said.

Such offers could still be sufficiently ⁠attractive for ​Pakistan&#39;s leadership to pursue a larger defence deal, said two sources, adding that negotiations were expected to ​pick up in speed once US-Iran tensions subside.

Analysts cautioned that this might turn out to be wishful thinking. &quot;Pakistan has to be cognizant of dangers of over-commitment,&quot; said Muhammad Faisal, a South Asia researcher at the University ​of Technology in Sydney.]]>
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			<title>Pakistani researcher wins wildlife conservation award</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2618832/pakistani-researcher-wins-wildlife-conservation-award</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2618832/pakistani-researcher-wins-wildlife-conservation-award#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 17 Jul 26 17:52:41 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Asif Mehmood]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2618832</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Research examines the impacts of trophy hunting on mountain carnivores, ungulates and local communities]]>
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				<![CDATA[Pakistani researcher Bilal Mustafa has received the Young Researcher of the Year Opinion Award from the International Council for Conservation of Game and Wildlife (CIC), one of Europe&#39;s oldest hunting and wildlife conservation organisations.

According to Mustafa, he is the first Pakistani to receive the award. The recognition was conferred on the basis of his ongoing research, selected from submissions received from around the world.

His research examines the impacts of trophy hunting on mountain carnivores, ungulates and the local communities living in and around the Karakoram Mountains of Pakistan.

Mustafa is currently pursuing a PhD at Tarleton State University in Texas, United States, with co-supervision from the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.

Speaking about the achievement, Mustafa said the award was a recognition of his research and an important milestone for Pakistan&#39;s contribution to wildlife conservation science. He expressed hope that the recognition would encourage further research and international collaboration in the field of biodiversity conservation.]]>
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			<title>Over 300,000 put under 1,291 smart lockdowns</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2242020/smart-lockdown-imposed-1292-areas-across-pakistan-ncoc-told</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2242020/smart-lockdown-imposed-1292-areas-across-pakistan-ncoc-told#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 13 Jun 20 15:20:13 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Razya Khan]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2242020</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Punjab, Sindh cross grim mark of 50,000 cases]]>
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				<![CDATA[The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) was informed on Saturday that smart lockdowns had been enforced in 1,292 localities across the country during the last 24 hours to prevent the further spread of Covid-19.

The forum, which serves as the nerve centre of the country’s unified efforts to contain the spread of novel coronavirus, heard that a total of 308,600 people now remain under the restrictions in various parts of the country.

A total of 10 localities in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), having a population of 60,000, were put under smart lockdown, the forum was told. The smart lockdowns had been enforced in 844 localities of Punjab, confining 15,200 people.

Similarly, the lockdown had been imposed in 414 localities of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, with a population of 11,000, seven localities in Sindh with a population of 7,000, 12 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and five areas in Gilgit-Baltistan.

It was also informed that the federal and provincial authorities were ensuring compliance with the health guidelines and instructions, particularly regarding workplaces, industrial sector, transport, markets and shops, besides pursuing the track, trace and quarantine (TTQ) strategy.

The NCOC meeting, chaired by Planning Minister Asad Umar, was also informed that over 13,116 violations of health guidelines were observed across the country in the last 24 hours and punitive actions were taken against 1,541 markets and shops, 33 industrial units and 1,429 vehicles.

Later, the NCOC released details of ventilators and beds’ availability for Covid-19 patients across the country. According to a statement, 379 beds, 68 oxygenated beds and 43 ventilators were available in AJK. Though there was no patient on the ventilator there.

In Balochistan, 2,148 beds, 262 oxygenated beds and 36 ventilators were available for the virus patients. It said that no Covid-19 patient in the province was on ventilator. There were 151 beds, 43 oxygenated beds, 28 ventilators available in Gilgit, where one patient was on ventilator.

Islamabad had 514 beds, 262 oxygenated beds, 90 ventilators, while 18 patients were on ventilators, the NCOC said, adding that 4,856 beds, 1,081 oxygenated beds and 340 ventilators were available in K-P, where 85 patients were on ventilators.

In the most-affected provinces, 9,276 beds, 3,500 oxygen beds and 387 ventilators were available in Punjab, where 233 patients were on ventilators, while 8,274 beds, 739 oxygenated beds and 368 ventilators were available in Sindh, where 83 patients were on ventilators.

50,000 cases

Punjab and Sindh, two of the most populous provinces of the country, each crossed the grim mark of 50,000 coronavirus cases on Saturday, as the country endured another day of over 6,000 new infections amid a record-breaking surge in the pandemic.

In the last 24 hours, each of the two provinces recorded more than 2,000 new cases. According to the official data released on Saturday morning, the number of recoveries also crossed 50,000. However, as the day progressed, more Covid-19 positive cases were confirmed.

By midnight, the nationwide tally of Covid-19 patients stood at 135,943 with 50,087 cases in Punjab, 51,518 in Sindh, 17,450 in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 8,028 in Balochistan, 1,093 in Gilgit-Baltistan, 7,163 in Islamabad and 604 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The virus has so far, claimed at least 2,597 lives.

The NCOC said that some 839,019 people had so far been tested, with nearly 30,000 tests conducted over the past 24 hours. The data showed that death ratio in confirmed cases also rose to 2%, from 1.7% earlier, while recoveries also climbed from 20% to 32%.

Spread among medical staff

According to the data, 3,858 health workers, treating the virus coronavirus patients, have also fallen victims to this pandemic. The disease has so far, claimed the lives of 36 health workers – 14 in Sindh, 7 in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 5 in Balochistan, 6 in Punjab, 2 in Gilgit-Baltistan and 2 in Islamabad.

According to the report, the health workers affected by coronavirus included 2,327 doctors, 476 nurses and 1,055 other staff. Among them, 266 health workers are being treated in various hospitals, including 3 on ventilators due to their critical condition. Over 1,450 have recovered so far.

(WITH INPUT FROM APP)]]>
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			<title>Tales of survivors: ‘Isolation, not coronavirus, was my worst nightmare’</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2188962/tales-survivors-isolation-not-coronavirus-worst-nightmare</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2188962/tales-survivors-isolation-not-coronavirus-worst-nightmare#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 20 17:32:30 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Sher Wali]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2188962</guid>
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				<![CDATA[I was convinced that if my time is not up, this virus can never kill me]]>
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				<![CDATA[I’ve lived my worst nightmare. It wasn’t the coronavirus, but the prolonged treatment [read: observation] in isolation that made it a hellish experience. Imagine being confined to a tiny room with no social interaction whatsoever for almost a month. Doctors and nurses were the only visitors, who, too, would check on me once or twice a day.

If you’re sick, you need your loved-ones around you. The sense of having someone who cares about you gives you strength to fight illness. Conversely, social isolation makes you more vulnerable to sickness. Your immune system doesn’t respond properly in isolation and it takes you longer to heal.

In my case, it wasn’t me alone; my wife also shared the isolation ordeal at Mohammadabad Hospital, in Danyore, Gilgit-Baltistan. Interestingly, she didn’t have any symptoms, but tested positive for the virus. We both were in the isolation ward, while our five kids were at home – alone and worried.

The ordeal started after a trip to Iran. My wife and I went in a group of 22 pilgrims to visit the holy shrines in Iran. We mostly stayed in Qom, though our pilgrimage also took us to Mashhad, and to neighbouring Iraq.

Tales of survivors: ‘Never before had I seen doctors dressed up like aliens’

On Feb 22, we were preparing to return to Pakistan when we heard about the outbreak of some contagious disease in Qom. Until then, I didn’t know much about the coronavirus.

On Feb 25, we took a flight for Lahore. At Tehran airport, they didn’t allow anyone to board the flight without screening. Neither of us was sick. At Lahore airport, we were screened again. We drove to Rawalpindi where we stayed for two days. While fellow pilgrims dispersed, we took a bus for Gilgit on Feb 28 and reached our village Nomal, some 15km from Gilgit city, in the evening.

In the night I felt feverish. I took it for travel fatigue, took over-the-counter fever reducers from my neighbour and tried to sleep. It didn’t help. I started having chills.

Next morning, I called up the District Headquarters Hospital Gilgit and told medics about my travel and fever. A team of doctors immediately came to see me and my wife. We were then driven to the DHQ hospital in an ambulance. They took samples to test us for the novel coronavirus, while we were shifted to the Civil Hospital Basin. The samples were sent to National Institute of Health (NIH) in Islamabad for PCR test because the facility wasn’t available in Gilgit-Baltistan. I lost my appetite but I tried to force-feed myself so that I could gather some energy to fight off my illness. After a couple of days, our test reports were received from NIH: both of us were positive for COVID-19.

After the diagnosis, they shifted us to the Mohammadabad Hospital, where we were to stay for the next 25 days. Interestingly, by now my fever was gone, while I had no cough, no muscle soreness, no sore throat, and no shortness of breath. My appetite returned to normal [I started eating more than I normally do]. My wife remained asymptomatic throughout all this time.

Tales of survivors: How I became Pakistan's first COVID-19 patient

I’m a 51-year-old ex-serviceman and my wife is 45. I had heard that the coronavirus could be fatal for people of my age and older. Doctors sought to reassure me. But honestly, I wasn’t scared one bit. It is part of our faith that every living being has to die one day. I knew if I was destined to die, I’d die no matter what. But if my time is not up, this virus can never kill me.

We were tested several times during our 25-day nightmarish sojourn. We had no symptoms, but would still test positive. I’ve heard that my wife’s reports were mixed up with another patient’s at the NIH.

Luckily, the PCR testing facility was made available in Gilgit in the meantime and we were tested locally for the first time. The results were negative and a repeat test a day later confirmed the virus was out of our bodies. It was a huge relief.

We were discharged from the hospital on March 28, but doctors said we should avoid socialising for 14 days. We’ve rented a house in Gilgit city to spend these two weeks here. It’s been five days now and we are counting the days till we are completely in the clear.

My advice to the sick: Don’t dread this virus. Keep your faith in God and power up your will, Inshallah you will defeat it. To everyone else, I say take all precautions possible. If not out of concern for the virus, then think of the ordeal isolation can create.

 (Narrated to Naveed Hussain)]]>
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			<title>'We honour his sacrifice': Dr Usama's fight against COVID-19</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2182160/honour-sacrifice-dr-usamas-fight-covid-19</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2182160/honour-sacrifice-dr-usamas-fight-covid-19#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 23 Mar 20 06:55:24 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[shabbir.mir]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Gilgit Baltistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2182160</guid>
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				<![CDATA[It is a national tragedy and we will award him the status of national hero, says G-B CM]]>
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				<![CDATA[“We will again see what the issue is, and if they [quarantined pilgrims] need further treatment, they will be shifted to DHQ or city hospital, but if they can be treated here, we will provide treatment to them here.”

These were the last words of young doctor Usama Riaz, heard in a video recorded at a quarantine centre at Sakwar, Gilgit – where he ultimately ended up contracting the novel coronavirus while checking pilgrims returning from Iran and Iraq.

“Usama was continuously on duty and unfortunately was without proper protective gear necessary to handle coronavirus patient,” said a doctor referring to his video in which Riaz is seen wearing an ordinary mask. The video went viral on social media attracting sympathies for the young doctor.

Pakistani volunteers 3D-print ventilators, join war against COVID-19

According to relatives, Riaz returned home on Friday night from duty and went to bed. “But he couldn’t wake up next morning,” said the relative, adding he was rushed to combined military hospital (CMH) and then the district headquarter (DHQ) hospital where a CT scan machine was found to be out of order. The relatives appealed for airlifting him to Islamabad for treatment but that did not materialize either.

The 26-years-old Riaz, who was a resident of Chilas town, was then put on a ventilator at DHQ Gilgit, where he remained for the next three days before passing away on Sunday.

“It’s a national tragedy and we will award him the status of national hero,” Chief Minister Hafeezur Rehman told The Express Tribune.

“He was our frontline defence and we honour his sacrifice.”

Riaz’s death brings the tally of fatalities to five in Pakistan. The country has so far above 800 known cases of the virus. Sindh has reported the highest number of cases.

Mehtabur Rehman, a local journalist, who visited the quarantine centre said, “I visited the centre where Usama was deputed and found the situation deplorable”.

“As far as protective gear, there was no such thing on the ground,” said the journalist who was later put on quarantine on ‘suspicion’ of visiting the centre without following the standard operating procedures. Rehman termed the quarantine as a vendetta for exposing the government’s false claims.

Young doctor screening coronavirus patients dies of COVID-19 in Gilgit

The Pakistan Medical Association of Gilgit-Baltistan (PMA G-B) reacted to Riaz’s death and accused the government of showing negligence towards genuine issues of the doctors.

“Dr Riaz had contracted COVID-19 due to the negligence of government and its health department,” said President PMA G-B Dr Zulfiqar Ali while addressing a press conference in Gilgit.]]>
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			<title>New coronavirus case emerges in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan's tally rises to 20</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2173948/new-coronavirus-case-emerges-gilgit-baltistan-pakistans-tally-rises-20</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2173948/new-coronavirus-case-emerges-gilgit-baltistan-pakistans-tally-rises-20#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 11 Mar 20 09:27:47 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Gilgit Baltistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2173948</guid>
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				<![CDATA[The 14-year-old boy, a resident of Skardu, was held at an isolation centre where he tested positive for COVID-19]]>
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				<![CDATA[The second coronavirus case of Gilgit-Baltistan emerged on Wednesday, raising Pakistan’s tally of total confirmed cases to 20.

The 14-year-old boy, a resident of Skardu, was held at an isolation centre where he tested positive for the mysterious viral pneumonia-like disease caused by the novel coronavirus.

So far 20 Pakistanis have been tested positive for COVID-19 with 15 of them belonging to Sindh, four in Gilgit-Baltistan now and one in Balochistan.

First coronavirus case surfaces in Quetta, raising Pakistan’s tally to 19

On Tuesday, the first coronavirus case emerged in the Balochistan capital. The 12-year-old patient had arrived in Quetta along with his parents from Iran via Taftan border, head of a government hospital said.

The family belongs to Dadu district in Sindh, said the medical superintendent (MS) of Fatima Jinnah Hospital, adding that parents, three siblings and paternal aunt of the child are tested negative.

One patient has already fully recovered and was discharged from the hospital in Karachi last week.

Meanwhile, Dr Zafar Mirza, the de facto health minister, has said the federal government is looking closely at the changing situation and new cases are being provided with the best medical care.

“No need to worry… the situation is completely under control. The federal and provincial governments are jointly making all-out efforts to protect the masses from coronavirus on war footing,” he wrote using his official Twitter handle.

Dr Mirza admitted that the coronavirus cases in Pakistan had doubled in the last 24 hours.

“This is not surprising. Disease has spread in 106 countries. All 19 cases have brought this from abroad. All are stable. There is no evidence of local spread as yet. If we act responsibly we can avoid spread,” he wrote.

He also advised the public to observe hygiene by washing hands properly, avoid touching face and keeping distance with sick people.

“The government is working hard to contain the spread, but we all need to take our part in this fight,” he added.

All educational institutions in Sindh and Balochistan have been closed till March 13 over fear of the contagious disease’s outbreak.

The mysterious COVID-19 virus, which originated in a vet market of the central Chinese city of Wuhan late last year, has since then spread to more than 110 countries of the world, killing over 4,000 and infecting over 115,000 people, mostly in China thus far.

But new outbreaks in Europe, the Middle East and in Asia have fanned fears of the contagion taking hold in poor nations that lack the healthcare infrastructure to cope.

There are growing fears in Pakistan — sandwiched between China and Iran, both hotspots for the disease — over how the country would deal with the outbreak.]]>
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